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 concerns a Polish-Romanian supermarket. The fire is said to have started in the back of the business. The public prosecutor’s office suspects that foul play is involved.
Hans Otten and Guy Van Nieuwenhuysen
Yesterday at 2:24 PM
© BFM
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.
The exact cause of the fire is not yet clear, but arson is increasingly suspected. “There is a strong suspicion of foul play in the nighttime fire in Turnhout,” confirms spokesperson Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office. “We have therefore scaled up the investigation to a judicial investigation. For the time being, we have not yet received any results from the lab or the fire expert.”
17 people taken to hospital
In total, the fire brigade removed many people from the building. “The evacuation 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.”
The evacuation at the rear of the building was not easy. — © bfm
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
Expert
The fire probably started behind the service counter. An expert must visit during the day to determine the exact cause. Ultimately, four residents appeared to be slightly affected by the smoke. All evacuees have been accommodated in the walk-in areas of CAW De Kempen, where social workers are busy looking for shelter.
The store next to the superette, where shoes and handbags are sold, will also remain closed for the time being. There is also a lot of soot damage there.
The fact that the evacuation was so difficult raises questions. “We need to look at this thoroughly in consultation with the fire brigade and the Housing Department,” responds Mayor Paul Van Miert (N-VA). “Does this building still meet the standards? It is an older apartment building, where many people live together. There already appeared to be a problem with the house numbers, but additional investments may also be needed to facilitate the evacuation of residents in the event of a fire. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.”
© BFM
© BFM