Five people died Tuesday after a fire spread into a lift shaft at a construction site in central Brussels [1].
The incident highlights the extreme danger of vertical shafts in renovation projects, where fire can travel rapidly and trap workers in confined spaces.
Emergency responders were called to the building under renovation early Tuesday, July 14, 2026 [2]. According to reports, firefighters initially brought the blaze under control, but flames later spread into a lift shaft, sparking a second fire [3]. This secondary surge trapped several construction workers and contractors within the shaft.
"The fire spread rapidly into the lift shaft, trapping people inside," a fire chief said [4].
The Brussels Prosecutor's Office confirmed the recovery of five bodies [1]. Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate another individual who remains unaccounted for [1]. While some early reports suggested a higher number of missing persons, official statements from the prosecutor's office indicate that one person is still missing [1].
"We have recovered five bodies and are still searching for one missing person," the Brussels Prosecutor's Office said [1].
Investigators are now working to determine the exact cause of the initial fire and why the blaze reignited after the first intervention. The site, located in the center of the city, remains secured as crews search for the final missing person and remove debris from the shaft.
“"The fire spread rapidly into the lift shaft, trapping people inside."”
This tragedy underscores the volatility of construction site fires, particularly in older buildings undergoing renovation. The fact that the fire was initially controlled before reigniting in a lift shaft suggests a 'chimney effect,' where vertical openings draw heat and flames upward, bypassing standard containment efforts and creating lethal traps for personnel.
