Construction worker dies as ceiling of house collapses in Saint-Gilles

A construction worker died this morning when part of a house under renovation collapsed on the Chaussée de Waterloo in Saint-Gilles. Three other workers were taken to hospital in serious condition.

The three-story house at number 139, near the Barrière de Saint-Gilles, was being structurally renovated, and part of the ceiling on the first floor came crashing down early this morning. Rescue workers had to dig the four construction workers out of the rubble, and one of them did not survive.

There were two more workers in the building, but they were able to escape onto the street without injury. The exact cause of the collapse is not yet known.

“There was concrete work being done at the time of the collapse,” said a spokesperson with the fire brigade, “but it’s not clear if that had anything to do with the accident. Brussels labour authorities will carry out an investigation.”

Photo courtesy Brussels fire brigade