Unstable scaffolding disrupts train traffic in Balen
Due to the wind, the scaffolding installed for renovation around the railway bridge over the Dessel-Kwaadmechelen canal in Balen (province of Antwerp) is very unstable and risks falling onto the tracks and cycle path. Consequently, the circulation of bicycles and trains is impossible on Monday, as is navigation, indicates the municipality.
SNCB is trying to organize an alternative between Balen station and Mol station as quickly as possible.
In addition to bicycle and train traffic, navigation on the Dessel-Kwaadmechelen canal was also interrupted for safety reasons.
5:35 p.m.
A tree fell in Soumagne
Nicolas, from Soumagne, sends us the photo of a tree lying in rue du Curé, in Cerexhe-Heuseux.
17h14
Brussels firefighters give their assessment
The Brussels firefighters announced, at 4:30 p.m., eight interventions in progress, 30 interventions for broken branches and uprooted trees. 34 interventions took place for various objects tossed by the wind (tiles, cornice, panels, cables, etc.). There are also, at the moment, 33 pending interventions.
17h06
Yellow wind alert extended for all provinces
The yellow wind alert issued by the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) for all provinces due to the passage of depression Floriane is extended until 6:00 p.m. Monday.
“An area of precipitation will cross our country from west to east. It may temporarily be accompanied by gusts of 80 to 90 km/h, or even very locally more,” indicates the IRM.
The provinces of Namur and Luxembourg remain placed under yellow alert until 7:00 p.m. Monday due to heavy rain.
“Between Sunday evening and Monday evening, we are still forecasting cumulative precipitation of between 25 and locally 35 mm, mainly in the provinces of Namur and Luxembourg. By adding the precipitation that has already fallen on Sunday, the total precipitation over these two days could locally be reach 50 to 70 mm in these provinces”, warns the IRM.
The ban on access to parks, nature reserves and woods in the Brussels Region, including the Sonian Forest, is also extended until Tuesday morning, indicates Bruxelles Environnement.
In general, Brussels Environment recommends avoiding driving near trees throughout the territory.
17h02
Around fifty interventions for the Picardy Wallonia area
Following the passage of the storm “Floriane”, firefighters in the Picardy Wallonia area intervened around fifty times on Monday. The towns and municipalities located north of Tournai were spared. The fall of a tree on a car in Beloeil is the only serious incident to deplore.
The first calls to the dispatching of the Picardy Wallonia emergency zone (Western Hainaut) began on Monday around 9:00 a.m. and continued until 3:30 p.m., when the situation calmed down.
“Since this morning, we have intervened around fifty times for trees lying on the public highway and to a lesser extent for tiles fallen to the ground.“, we explain at the rescue center.
“We have not had any calls regarding the Comines and Mouscron areas. All interventions were carried out to the east of the town of Tournai towards the entities of Péruwelz, Beloeil and Bernissart. The villages of Vezon, Rebaix, Blaton and Stambruges were mainly affected. Apart from a serious accident in Beloeil, no other injuries have been reported.“, we specified at 4:00 p.m. at dispatch.
16h25
“We started service at 7 a.m. It doesn’t stop”
David, firefighter-ambulance corporal confirms this: “We haven’t stopped since this morning. We started duty at 7 a.m. It hasn’t stopped,” he tells us. It is attributed to the felling of trees on public roads. “We are transforming it little by little, while remaining safe ourselves. We have to be careful about what we do,” explains David.
16h14
Serious road accident in the Beloeil region: two injured in serious condition
A serious traffic accident occurred early Monday afternoon in the area of Beloeil, near Tournai, where a tree crashed into a car. The two occupants, who were extricated, were admitted in serious condition to two hospitals in the Mons region.
The Picardy Wallonia emergency services were alerted on Monday afternoon, around 1:15 p.m., that a serious road accident had occurred along rue du Calvaire at the exit of the village of Stambruges (Beloeil). Coming from the Wapi barracks but also from Borinage, an extrication vehicle, two ambulances, a SMUR and a command vehicle were dispatched to the site.
“Due to the violent winds, a car which was moving was crushed by a large tree which fell to the ground. The tree had a section of around forty centimeters. The violent impact projected the vehicle onto the side aisle”explains Lieutenant Géry Wallemacq who led the intervention. “The car was occupied by two men aged around fifty. The two victims, who had to be extricated, were seriously injured. They were admitted to the St-Joseph and Ambroise Paré hospitals in the Mons region“, specifies the officer. The firefighters and rescuers of the Wapi zone were supported during their intervention by the technical services staff of the town of Beloeil.
15h57
A tree fell in Anderlecht disrupting traffic
In Neerpede, Marco’s road was blocked by a large tree that fell on the road. He sends us this first photo from his car, via the orange Alert us button. Sandy also passed by: “The tree fell, paralyzing the tram, there were no injuries, but traffic was severely disrupted. I had to go pick up my daughter on foot“, she testifies.
15h51
Damage in Louvain and Asse: several parts of the scaffolding of the Saint-Martin church fell
Strong winds caused damage in Leuven and Asse, in Flemish Brabant, local emergency services reported. In Asse, the gusts led to the fall of several parts of the scaffolding of the Saint-Martin church. A security perimeter has been established and all streets surrounding the building will be closed to traffic until 8:00 p.m.
In the university town of Leuven, several Christmas trees ready to be collected by cleaning services have gone missing.
15h25
A wall collapses on a car in Gosselies
The strong gusts caused the fall of a wall in Gosselies, in the province of Hainaut. A car is found under the rubble. “We were in the house, we heard a loud noise and we said to ourselves that it was surely the wall that had fallen”, says Nino, a witness. Unfortunately the wall fell on the car (…) No more cars, if anyone was there, unfortunately it would have fallen on the person. Fortunately there was no one there at the time.“. The wall is located a few meters from a school.
15h20
Place De Brouckère and part of Boulevard Anspach closed
Place De Brouckère and part of Boulevard Anspach were closed on Monday as a security measure as violent winds blew across part of Belgium, Brussels police said.
Wooden panels fell from a construction site at Place De Brouckère onto the public highway and other panels threaten to fall as well. The police therefore set up a security perimeter at the request of the firefighters.
15h14
Already damage caused by wind
The wind is already causing damage, notably in Mont-Saint-Guibert, where a tree fell on rue du Ruisseau.
In Liège, a tree and a lighting pole fell onto the road, on Boulevard Gustave Kleyer.
13h58
Limited damage so far in the Westhoek
Firefighters in the Westhoek area (West Flanders) have so far only had to carry out eight interventions due to the storm. These included trees falling on the roadway, for example in Stavele (Alveringem), De Klijte (Heuvelland), Boezinge (Ypres) and Watou (Poperinge).
In Koekelare, a cable lay on the road and in Poperinge, construction site fences blew away in the wind. The firefighters also had to intervene for a trampoline which was taken away from the fields in Avekapelle (Furnes) and an illuminated sign which was abandoned in Passendale (Zonnebeke).
15h20
Around ten interventions by firefighters
At 1 p.m. this Monday, there is no major damage to report yet, in Liège, Namur, Charleroi, Mons or Tournai. All emergency areas had their work cut out for them, with at least ten interventions to clear roads or deal with small, very localized floods.
Closure of Brussels green spaces this Monday due to winds
Due to the forecast gusts of wind, parks, nature reserves and woods in Brussels, including the Soignes forest, will be closed to the public this Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Brussels Environment said on Sunday evening. Throughout the territory, it is also recommended to avoid driving near trees.
The emergency number 1722 has been activated to report all damage caused by bad weather and which would require non-urgent intervention by the firefighters.
12h44
Yellow wind alert extended to the entire territory
The Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) has extended its yellow wind alert, for Monday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., to the entire territory while it initially only concerned the Coast and the Ardennes. “Monday afternoon, a disturbance will cross the country from west to east. This could locally cause wind gusts between 80 and 90 km/h, or even very locally more.” warns the MRI.
The provinces of Namur and Luxembourg are already placed under yellow alert this Sunday, and until Monday evening, due to heavy rain. “Between this Sunday evening and Monday evening, we are still forecasting cumulative precipitation amounts of between 25 and locally 35 mm, mainly in the provinces of Namur and Luxembourg. By adding the precipitation that has already fallen on Sunday, the total cumulative precipitation over these two days could locally reach 50 to 70 mm in these provinces”warns the MRI.
12h17
The Regional Expertise Unit reports several rivers on pre-flood alert
A regional Expertise Unit was convened following the heavy rains that fell over the last 24 hours in Wallonia, the SPW announced in a press release on Monday. A flood alert on the Senne and its tributaries was issued on Sunday evening and is maintained until further notice. However, a decreasing trend is expected in the coming hours.
