Belgium and the Netherlands: “People couldn’t get out”

Belgium and the Netherlands are also fighting the floods. Residents are locked in houses, several people were killed. In some places the tide has not yet reached its highest level.

The tidal wave rolls on. In the south of Belgium the water levels are falling slightly, but many cities are still under water, especially along the Meuse and its tributaries.

So far, more than 20 people have died in the floods. At least five are still missing. Authorities fear more deaths will be found if the water level drops again and the true extent of the devastation becomes apparent.

During the night, many residents were taken out of their homes in helicopters and boats, reports a fire department spokesman from the Namur region to RTBF. “There were people who couldn’t get out because the water was too high. We got them dry with ropes.”

Lots of people in shelters

But residents are still locked in houses. Others were able to save themselves in time or were brought to safety as a precaution. In Liège alone, more than 1,000 people spent the night in emergency shelters.

In the meantime, the water masses are pushing further north. Dikes threaten to give way on the Meuse, locks are under pressure, around Liège, but also further downstream. There could be no question of the all-clear, said the governor of Limburg Province, Jos Lantmeeters, on Flemish radio. “It’s still far too early for that. The tide has not yet reached its highest level in our country, we don’t expect that until later in the day.”

Many place without electricity

The situation in the municipality of Maaseik is particularly critical. The Heppeneert district threatens to be flooded, the water is already running over the protective wall. But other parts of the country are also under water, many small rivers such as the Gete or the Dijle in Vlaams-Brabant have overflowed their banks and flooded inner cities, streets and industrial sites.

In some places there are problems with drinking water. Lines are destroyed, the water is dirty. Many districts are without electricity because distribution boxes have been flooded. Rail lines are interrupted, the connection to and from Brussels is also affected.

The Belgian government has requested support from other member states via the EU’s civil protection system, including France wants to help the neighboring country with equipment and rescue workers. Flanders’ Prime Minister Jan Jambon has promised the flood victims quick financial aid from the state disaster fund, but he also sees the insurance companies as an obligation.

Great damage in the Netherlands too

In the Netherlands, too, the tide is far from over. Although the water level in Maastricht was not as high as feared, the damage is still great. Many residents had to leave their homes as a precaution. In the city of Meerssen and its surroundings, people were called upon to get to safety after a dike breached. Emergency services warned that the water masses threatened to flood several villages.

In the Roermond region, the water is rising faster than expected, and dozens of residents are being brought to safety here too. After all, it has stopped raining and it should stay dry for the next few days.