BRUSSELS – A fire has torn through an old people’s home in Belgium, leaving nine people dead and three more in a critical condition. The fire broke out at about 8pm on Thursday night at the home in Melle, near Brussels, and quickly sent thick, black smoke through the sprawling building, where about 100 elderly residents receive care.
Officials said the fire was probably accidental. “A piece of equipment overheated or imploded and very quickly there was dense smoke everywhere,” city alderman Frederik De Buck said.
Most of the residents on the wing where the fire broke out were already asleep, with their doors open on a day that temperatures topped 30 degrees Celsius. Only a few were able to get outside in time, Mr De Buck said.
“It is especially the smoke that did it,” he said. “A lot of doors were left open because of the hot weather outside.” – (AP)