Fire erupts at waffle factory in Brussels

BRUSSELS -- A fire broke out on Thursday afternoon in the Milcamps waffle factory in the Forest municipality of the Brussels Capital Region, said Pierre Meys, spokesman for the Brussels fire department.

The authorities are still searching for the technical causes that triggered the incident. According to some reports, it started in the cooling system of the furnaces of the factory that set the rooftops ablaze.

"There were no victims as such but the factory has been completely ravaged," said Marc-Jean Ghyssels, mayor of the Forest municipality in Brussels.

For safety reasons, the rail traffic leaving Brussels Midi has been temporarily closed off.

The smoke spread throughout the area of Forest, as well as some parts in the vicinity. Due to the massive toxic fume, the mayor of Forest asked all residents in the area -- who haven't been evacuated -- to remain at home.

No official emergency plan has yet been triggered by the authorities.