Turnhout / –
In the Korte Gasthuisstraat in Turnhout, a serious fire raged in a food store under an apartment building. The fire was noticed around 3:30 am, but by then it had been going on for some time. It is a Polish food store. The fire is said to have started in the back of the business.
The fire was accompanied by heavy smoke development. There are eight apartments above and next to the business. Some residents got out on their own, the others had to be evacuated by the fire brigade.
“That was very difficult because there are no terraces on the front side of the street,” says commander Marc Van Mechelen of the Taxandria fire zone. “They are there at the rear, but were very difficult to reach. We could hardly reach it with our ladder truck, we had to use regular ladders.”
Ultimately, seventeen people were taken to hospital. “Luckily they were not in serious condition, most had suffered smoke inhalation. This is mainly a preventive measure. Other residents were sheltered in a hotel nearby.” Two dogs were also rescued by the fire brigade. The store is a complete loss. Eight apartments are uninhabitable for the time being, but some may be released after inspection. The houses above the business are too badly damaged to be habitable.
© BFM
© BFM