BRUSSELS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A fire that broke out at an apartment building in the Belgian port city of Antwerp on Wednesday morning has killed five people and injured 16 others, according to reports by Belgian media.
Authorities are still working to identify the five victims, while relatives of missing persons are awaiting further information.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control after about six hours. Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg said the injured mainly suffered from smoke inhalation. Belgian King Philippe and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the scene later that evening.
According to local media, the first residents were allowed to return to their homes later Wednesday, while those unable to return were accommodated in nearby hotels. The city of Antwerp has opened an online condolence register for the victims.
Cleanup work at the affected apartment building began Thursday morning, with an industrial cleaning team entering the building.
Residents of the worst-hit areas are still not allowed to return, and access to parts of the building remains restricted. It remains unclear how extensive the damage is or when they will be able to move back in.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The building's property manager said Wednesday that workers were installing an electrical cabinet at the time of the incident and may have hit a water pipe, causing a short circuit. The fire department has not confirmed the account. ■
