BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeClimateWorldUS & CanadaUKBusinessTechScienceEntertainment & ArtsHealthMoreIn PicturesBBC VerifyNewsbeatWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastFire at Antwerp apartment block kills at least sixTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played Video of the incident showed a person on a balcony being helped into a neighbouring window away from the smoke At least six people have died and several others have been injured in a fire that broke out in a 10-storey block of flats in Antwerp, Belgian police say. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the eighth floor of the building in the Linkeroever district, after the fire broke out just before 10:00 (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Dramatic video showed a man clambering from his balcony through a neighbour's window to escape the black smoke. Police say more than 200 people live in the block and the fire department has evacuated 80 flats in the building. They say the fire was caused by a technical problem on the ground floor. "It has claimed a heavy toll here at Linkeroever," police spokeswoman Kim Bastiaens told Belgian public TV, adding that a number of people had suffered from serious and minor injuries. Resident Geert Dewulf told VRT how thick smoke had stopped him getting out of his flat: "We barricaded ourselves into our flat and waited on the balcony. The fire brigade came to rescue us from the balcony 10 minutes or so later with their ladder." Image source, BELGA MAG/Belga/AFPImage caption, Smoke was seen billowing from the top three floors of the 10-storey block Firefighters said they were going from flat to flat to search for possible victims, explaining that the smoke had spread quickly through the building, making it harder to evacuate people. Another man said his parents-in-law, one of them ex-mayor of Antwerp Bob Cools, had been successfully evacuated from the building and taken to hospital. "We tried our utmost to save the cat but unfortunately in the end we were unable to," he said. Police said that by mid-afternoon the blaze was nearly under control. Antwerp fire brigade spokeswoman Marie de Clercq said it was a complex fire and the poor visibility and thick smoke in the building had made it difficult to put out. Prime Minister Bart De Wever said his thoughts were with the victims and the evacuated residents of the "terrible fire" in Linkeroever. The Flemish parliament began its session on Wednesday afternoon with a minute's silence for the victims of the fire. Image source, BELGA MAG/Belga/AFPImage caption, Firefighters went from flat to flat in the apartment building, in the Linkeroever area of Antwerp PreviousNext0:55How Ukraine has changed warfare. 00:00:55, play videoHow Ukraine has changed warfare1:07Trump's $1bn crypto earnings revealed. 00:01:07, play videoTrump's $1bn crypto earnings revealed0:45Mount Etna eruption creates bright orange lava trail. 00:00:45, play videoMount Etna eruption creates bright orange lava trail0:41'I've made more than £35k selling vintage football shirts' 00:00:41, play video'I've made more than £35k selling vintage football shirts'1:16Is this golden eagle on the White House real? 00:01:16, play videoIs this golden eagle on the White House real?0:57Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson surprises Suffolk pupils. 00:00:57, play videoDwayne 'The Rock' Johnson surprises Suffolk pupils1:27'Superdry co-founder was my boss when he raped me' 00:01:27, play video'Superdry co-founder was my boss when he raped me'0:42Charlotte Tilbury's career tips and beauty pet peeves. 00:00:42, play videoCharlotte Tilbury's career tips and beauty pet peeves1:17'Cancer never leaves you' 00:01:17, play video'Cancer never leaves you'0:56Blow for Trump as US upholds birthright citizenship. 00:00:56, play videoBlow for Trump as US upholds birthright citizenship1:11Fans react as Serena 'The Goat' returns to Wimbledon. 00:01:11, play videoFans react as Serena 'The Goat' returns to Wimbledon1:04What will the UK spend £270bn on to defend itself? 00:01:04, play videoWhat will the UK spend £270bn on to defend itself?0:39Masala beans with jammy egg. 00:00:39, play videoMasala beans with jammy egg0:53More cash for defence, but is it enough? 00:00:53, play videoMore cash for defence, but is it enough?0:32How soon could Andy Burnham become PM? 00:00:32, play videoHow soon could Andy Burnham become PM?0:57Anti-migrant protesters march in South Africa. 00:00:57, play videoAnti-migrant protesters march in South Africa0:51Could underwater tunnels be built in the UK? 00:00:51, play videoCould underwater tunnels be built in the UK?0:43Is another UK heatwave on the way? 00:00:43, play videoIs another UK heatwave on the way?1:01Can 10-year-olds explain money laundering? 00:01:01, play videoCan 10-year-olds explain money laundering?0:51Amos: There needs to be a 'set of standards' for care. 00:00:51, play videoAmos: There needs to be a 'set of standards' for careTop storiesLive. 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