In the night from Friday to Saturday, the fire brigade received a call for a fire in the Zuidstraat in Torhout. Five residents of the affected apartment building had to be evacuated. Three victims were transferred to the hospital with smoke intoxication, but were already allowed to leave the hospital. The entire building was declared uninhabitable due to the fire.
The West-Flemish public prosecutor has appointed a fire expert to investigate the precise circumstances of the fire. According to the first findings of the expert, the fire might have intentionally lit. The lab also went on site to conduct trace research. The investigation into the arson is therefore in full swing, but currently no suspect would have been arrested.