Flooding due to heavy rain will continue to plague large parts of Flanders (Belgium) on Wednesday and Thursday. A disaster plan has been in force in East Flanders since Wednesday and additional dikes are being constructed or raised. In West Flanders, the provincial disaster plan has been in effect for a week. Volunteers help the fire brigade and the army to lay sandbags.
The Westhoek in West Flanders already had a hard time yesterday, but the misery is not over yet. The heavy rainfall on Wednesday is comparable to that of the previous days. This causes the water level to rise, which causes many problems in the area.
Video: Residents of 25 homes along the IJzer have to leave because their homes will almost certainly be flooded:
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In the meantime, the surface rescue team of the Antwerp fire brigade is helping with evacuations in the area. A helpline has now been activated for non-emergency assistance in the event of flooding. It will rain heavily again on Thursday in our southern neighbors, especially in West Flanders: locally more than 25 mm can fall in 24 hours. The Royal Meteorological Institute has therefore declared code yellow for that province, just like for Namur, Hainaut and Luxembourg.
In the West Flemish Woumen, near Diksmuide, residents of 25 homes are being preventively evacuated. This is what the Westhoek Fire Department reports.
Westhoek Fire Department @Brw_Westhoek
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On Tuesday, Ichtegem also did not escape the flooding caused by the persistent rain showers in many places in that province. All streets were reopened to traffic on Wednesday morning, but the municipality remains vigilant. “We had a meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss how we will reorganize ourselves because more rain is forecast in the following days. Today it should remain dry. We will therefore look at whether additional sandbags may need to be purchased. We want to prepare ourselves as best as possible for what is to come.”
The pedestrian tunnel at Dendermonde station was flooded on Tuesday. © RV
In Moorsele, some streets and walking paths are closed. De Waterlelie primary school will also remain closed until at least the weekend.
Residents of the areas stood with their feet in the water in Sint-Eloois-Winkel. “The solidarity is heart-warming, but we are all in the same boat,” he said. “We argue for structural measures that make such a deluge impossible or at least seriously limit it.” At Tom and Oona the water was even 1.30 meters high.
The underground garage of Oona (right) and Tom was a perfect target for the flood waters. © Hans Verbeke
EAST FLANDERS
After West Flanders, East Flanders is also preparing for additional flooding in the coming days. Governor Carina Van Cauter called all mayors together for a meeting.
A report is being drawn up in Lievegem containing all the bottlenecks caused by flooding in recent days. The Ronsele district in particular was hit hard this time. “Fortunately, houses and people were spared, and the streets and meadows were only flooded,” says Mayor Kim Martens (CD&V). “Together with the police, fire brigade and municipal services, we are now mapping everything out. And we will see whether we can avoid such situations in the future.
For how long is not clear, but the water that flooded the pedestrian tunnel of the station in Dendermonde for the umpteenth time on Tuesday is gone again. Many are anxiously awaiting the next rain shower.
The Henri Ryckaertstraat in Ronsele was completely flooded on Tuesday. © Cindy Bastiaen
The flooding in Aalst is also not over yet. In the Herdersem district, eighteen children cannot go to daycare for the time being. The flooding in Zulte is not over yet either. To keep Tuesday’s heavy rainfall under control, the Staatsbaan in Zulte will be partially closed to traffic until at least Wednesday evening.
In Kruisem, the municipality is trying to prepare as best as possible for the precipitation that is still predicted.
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2023-11-15 21:56:59
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