Embassy of Ireland to the Kingdom of Belgium Press Statement 31st January 2014

The Embassy of Ireland continues to engage with those involved in the fire in Leuven this morning. Two people lost their lives in the incident and eight other students from Irish colleges were rescued.
The Irish Ambassador Eamonn Mac Aodha visited the scene of the fire in Leuven this morning, and met with key officials dealing with the tragedy. The Ambassador and an Embassy official also met with all of the students who were rescued from the fire. The Embassy continues to liaise with the appropriate authorities and is providing consular assistance to those in need.
The Embassy extends our sincere and heartfelt sympathies to all affected by this traumatic event.

Statement by Eamon Gilmore following the fire in Leuven, Belgium

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., has expressed his sympathy to the families of the two students who died following this morning’s fire in Leuven, Belgium:

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of Dace Zarina and Sara Gibadlo, who lost their lives this morning in Leuven. My thoughts are also with their fellow students at the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, who have been through a terrible ordeal. Our Ambassador to Belgium, Eamonn Mac Aodha, has visited them in hospital and he and his colleagues will continue to offer every assistance. We are also working with the Polish and Latvian Embassies in Dublin and Brussels to help in any way we can. I would also like to note the bravery of the residents and fire department of Leuven who risked their own lives to help students escape the fire.”