A deadly fire broke out in an Antwerp apartment building on 1 July 2026, killing multiple residents and forcing the evacuation of dozens, including former Antwerp mayor Bob Cools and his wife. Cools, 92, and his wife Jacky, 89, were carried down by stretcher from the eighth floor, according to their son-in-law Walter, 62, who also lived in the building.
Walter, a resident on the eighth floor, said he and his family were rescued via the terraces using a ladder lift. He described the loss of several friends who perished in the blaze. "I don't dare think about the death struggle they went through," he said, adding that he struggled to sleep that night.
The fire caused extensive damage and a strong smell of smoke still lingered on the left side of the building the next day. Walter praised the extraordinary efforts of firefighters, ambulance crews, and police, as well as the shelter provided by a nearby care home (WZC). He also noted an overwhelming wave of solidarity from strangers offering homes and Airbnb accommodation, saying he still had hundreds of WhatsApp messages to reply to.
