The Antwerp district of Hoboken was rocked by a big explosion early this morning. As a result of the explosion part of an apartment building on Sint-Bernardsesteenweg was blown away. Antwerp fire brigade confirmed that at least six injured people were rescued from the building. One person later died. 4 people are still missing. The fire brigade is continuing to search for victims.
One killed and 5 injured after serious explosion in Antwerp, 4 still missing (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
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"This is a four-storey building and the top two floors were completely blown away by the explosion," the fire brigade's Ninke Neirynck told VRT. "We have already found 6 injured people and they have been rescued from the building and are receiving medical aid. They are still alive."
Later it emerged one of the injured, a 44-year-old man, had died. Three of the five injured are in a bad way.
The medical intervention plan has been activated to make the emergency response as efficient as possible. The fire brigade is also trying to make the building safe.
"We need to stabilise the building before we can continue searching for possible further victims. The building is very unstable. Inside the building it is very dangerous. We first need to stabilise the outside of the building."
The road is closed to traffic and tram services are also affected. Emergency services are asking people to avoid the area.
Mayor De Wever breaks off search for new governments to visit scene
Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever arrived at the scene around noon interrupting his search for a new Flemish and a new federal government. For a briefing from the emergency services he was joined by Antwerp Governor Cathy Berx .
How the explosion could happen is still not clear. According to gas grid operator Fluvius, the gas meters are still intact. That means the explosion did not occur where the gas mains enter the building. Where the explosion did occur is not yet clear.
An examining judge is leading an investigation into unintentional killing and unintentional GBH.
There is also damage to buildings adjacent to the affected property. "One flat has already been declared uninhabitable," fire service spokesperson Neirynck said. "For the residents of that flat, as well as other neighbours, accommodation for the night is being sought. There are no stability issues in other properties, but the salvage operation will cause considerable disruption."
A local resident spoke of his shock. "I had just got up and I heard a very violent bang. It then turned out to be an explosion in an apartment building, a whole section came down."