A month after the fatal fire at the Oxy building in central Brussels, the cause of the disaster remains unknown. Construction on the former Muntcentrum remains at a standstill.
Around 250 workers were on the building site at the time of the fire. Hours after the evacuation, the bodies of six workers were recovered from a lift shaft. They included five Belgians and one Romanian.
A further two people were taken to the military hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek with severe burns and were in a critical condition for some time. Brussels mayor Philippe Close described the disaster as “a tragedy that affects us all deeply”.
The Labour Inspectorate has launched a criminal investigation into persons unknown. This includes examining whether health and safety legislation was complied with. An inspection by forensic experts immediately after the fire revealed that one of the lift cables had been damaged.
“It is a very large building; there are many pieces of the puzzle to put together,” said auditor Brecht Speybroeck at the time.
A month later, the exact circumstances of the fire remain unclear, the Labour Inspectorate confirmed in a statement to VRT NWS. Although most of the findings have been established, the investigation is still under way. The construction site remains cordoned off in the meantime and the Labour Inspectorate is unable to say when work can resume.
Four of those who died in the fire – one of the worst workplace accidents in recent history – worked for contractor On Time Metalworks from Alken in Limburg. Relatives of all six victims visited the scene last month.