Multiple deaths were reported Wednesday when a raging fire ripped through an apartment block in the Belgian city of Antwerp, police said.
The blaze broke out mid-morning on the eighth floor of the building, where more than 200 people live, in the city's Linkeroever neighborhood, sending vast plumes of smoke into the air, Antwerp police said in a statement.
An evacuation of the 10-story building was underway. Residents were warned to keep their windows and doors closed and, if needed, to turn off any ventilators due to the amount of smoke in the air.
Firefighters battled the blaze in difficult conditions due to its size and intensity, police said. Several teams of first responders and police were dispatched to the site, including a specialized drone unit. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.
A medical emergency plan was activated to keep the victims from saturating nearby hospitals.
