Overnight storms ravage East and West Flanders
Parts of Flanders are clearing up after suffering serious damage from strong winds and hailstorms early on Sunday morning
“Hell broke loose”
The storm arrived from France in the early hours of Sunday morning, bringing gusting winds and hailstones that were several centimetres in diameter. Worst hit was the area around Torhout, which experience flooding in the centre, and Bruges. In Bruges, hailstones destroyed about 13,000 square metres of greenhouses.
“Around five o’clock, hell broke loose here,” Torhout mayor Norbert De Cuyper said. “The disaster plan came into operation, and we’re now busy co-ordinating our aid efforts.” The plan was suspended around 10.00, though fire fighters spent the rest of the day clearing up the damage.
The storm also struck in Kortemark, where a house was partially demolished and trees were blown over. The damage extended to Lichtervelde and Oostkamp, where 59mm of rain fell. The rest of the affected area saw an average of 50mm.
Photo courtesy VRT
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