Zonhoven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – At De Horizon Free Primary School Zonhoven, 185 students and staff were evacuated after a microwave smoldered, producing smoke. Firefighters arrived, no injuries were reported, and the building was later deemed safe.
As VRT News reported, today, Oct 20, 2025, around 1:50 p.m. a microwave at De Horizon Free Primary School in Zonhoven, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, started smoldering, producing smoke that spread through part of the building. School staff immediately followed safety protocols. All 185 students, teachers, and staff were quickly evacuated to the nearby sports hall.
What caused 185 students to be evacuated at De Horizon School in Zonhoven?
The fire department arrived quickly, the microwave had almost burned out. Once the building was checked and deemed safe, the students returned to their classrooms. School officials expressed relief that no one was injured.
A similar fire incident in Belgium occurred in October 2025 when a primary school in Sint-Niklaas had to evacuate around 400 pupils when carbon monoxide was detected in the building; around 30 children felt unwell, citing headaches and nausea, and 22 were taken to hospitals for further checks.
Another incident occurred in February 2021 when a kitchen fire at Adolphe Max Primary School in Brussels was suspected to be arson. The fire caused significant damage to the kitchen and the surrounding area, but no injury was reported.
