Monsin dam. — © Belgian
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Residents along the Meuse in Limburg are crossing their fingers that the Monsin dam, near Liège, is standing. Otherwise a catastrophe threatens for Maasmachelen, Lanaken and many other Maas municipalities in Limburg.
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All Maas municipalities in Limburg will proceed with evacuation, Limburg governor Jos Lantmeeters confirmed on Thursday evening. In Liège, the Meuse has already overflowed its banks. But they also hold their breath in Limburg. The role of the Monsin dam is crucial in this regard.
The Monsin dam, which lies just past Liège in the direction of Maastricht and Lanaken, has been under construction for some time now. The complex has been renovated for two years now. The dam is being watched closely. Because should it fail, the situation in both Belgian and Dutch Limburg will become even more worrying than in the worst possible scenario that is now being taken into account.
“The Albert Canal could also flood then”
“If the lock in Monsin breaks, we don’t know what the consequences will be. The Albert Canal also threatens to flood,” says Lantmeeters, who calls on the residents involved to err on the side of caution and to look for safer places.
Historically high
Due to the heavy rainfall of the past few days, the discharges on the Meuse are historically high. The forecasts indicate that the situation will only get worse. Possible flow rates are predicted up to 3,750 cubic meters per second, which has not happened in 100 years.
According to the governor, the highest water level is expected at 3 o’clock tonight. “That could be a peak for which the dikes are not designed,” he says.
In Maasmechelen the evacuation of residents of Meeswijk, Leut and Vucht-dorp was already announced on Thursday evening. A little later, the municipality also reported about a mandatory evacuation in A cat on Boorsem. People who cannot visit family or friends can go to the cultural center.
In Lanaken there is a mandatory evacuation in Smeermaas. The police warn all residents of the streets to be evacuated: the Maasdijk, Sapstraat and Brugstraat until the connection with the Zuid-Willemsvaart. All affected residents are taken care of in the OC Youth Park Smeermaas.
–The army was deployed to evacuate the last inhabitants of the hamlet of Herbricht in Lanaken. — © tp
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In front of Dilsen-Stokkem It’s about the mine subsidence area. That is a zone of more than thirty streets in the city. People can go there in the sports hall in Dilsen.
In Maaseik residents of the Maaseik sub-municipality – especially those in lower-lying areas, such as Heppeneert, Aldeneik and other neighborhoods – are asked to evacuate voluntarily. There may be an obligation for some neighborhoods later, according to mayor Johan Tollenaere (Open Vld).
In Kinrooi according to the latest information, the expected rise of the Meuse remains within the dike height. Municipal services remain vigilant. Voluntary evacuation is always possible, reports the municipal council.
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