Two dead and six missing after fire engulfs OXY tower on Brussels' Place De Brouckère
A fire broke out at around 8 a.m. on 14 July in the OXY building on Place De Brouckère, where renovation work was underway. Flames spread through the elevator shaft, killing at least two people; six workers remain missing.
What happened
A fire erupted in the OXY building, a prominent construction site on Place De Brouckère in central Brussels, on the morning of 14 July 2026. Over 200 workers were present when the fire started on the second floor, according to Brussels fire brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw. The initial fire was quickly extinguished, but flames entered the elevator shaft, triggering a second, more dangerous blaze that trapped workers inside the building.
A small fire broke out on the second floor. It was extinguished, but the flames reached the elevator shaft, causing a fire inside it.
Casualties and rescue operations
At least two people were found dead inside one of the elevators, confirmed by the Brussels Labor Audit. Spokesperson Brecht Speybrouck told Le Soir that firefighters opened a small aperture in the elevator and discovered several victims, though the exact number remained unclear. Six workers were officially listed as missing, and authorities warned that other elevators still needed to be checked.
Firefighters managed to open a small opening in one of the elevators and there we found several victims. We still do not know exactly how many. They could be the six missing, but it is also possible that there are still people in the other elevator or somewhere else.
Two injured workers were transported to the Military Hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek with burns. A firefighter suffering from hyperthermia was treated on site, while three other workers were evacuated from the structure. The Red Cross was dispatched to provide psychological support to those impacted.
- Small fire reported on second floor of OXY building
- Second-floor fire extinguished; flames spread into elevator shaft
- Bodies discovered in elevator; six workers declared missing
- Search and rescue operations continue; cause under investigation
The OXY project
Constructed in the 1970s as the Centre Monnaie, the cross-shaped building was undergoing a comprehensive renovation intended to transform it into a mixed-use complex. Plans included luxury apartments, a four-star hotel, offices, multiple restaurants, and a panoramic rooftop bar, with completion expected by late 2026 or early 2027. RTBF described it as a project meant to create an “oasis of peace” in the city centre, using recycled materials and housing premium amenities.
Cause and ongoing investigation
The origin of the fire remains unknown. Investigators from the labor audit and the Brussels public prosecutor’s office have launched inquiries, but no official cause has been released. The building’s elevators were still being checked late into the afternoon, and search and rescue operations were continuing. All workers were initially evacuated to a nearby restaurant as emergency services established a medical intervention plan and a psychosocial support system.
