Fire crews in the Dinaphi region (Dinant/Philippeville) responded to approximately forty incidents overnight Wednesday into Thursday across the district, in the wake of the Kirk depression, a spokesperson for the Patrice Liétart area reports. Authorities declared this morning that the emergency protocol was reactivated in Couvin to relocate three individuals and seven canine companions.
This relocation to the “Les Chenaux” campground necessitates airlift via a military helicopter, as fire personnel are unable to reach them by other means, the spokesperson explains.
Nighttime responses involved flooded roadways and basements, downed trees, and debris obstructing roadways, primarily in Couvin, Yvoir, and Rochefort.
In Couvin, a municipal emergency response plan was initiated around 10 p.m. A nearby stream, situated close to Couvin’s town center, overtopped its banks. The city’s maintenance department and emergency responders were on-site. Roughly twenty people staying at the “Le Caillou d’Eau” campsite were rescued by specialized swift water rescue units. This municipal emergency plan was deactivated overnight; however, Couvin’s central area remained submerged at daybreak.
Kirk Depression Unleashes Havoc in Dinaphi Region: Forty Incidents and Emergency Evacuations
The Dinaphi region (Dinant/Philippeville) bore the brunt of the Kirk depression overnight, with fire crews responding to a staggering forty incidents between Wednesday and Thursday. The storm’s fury resulted in widespread flooding, downed trees, and debris-strewn roads, particularly impacting Couvin, Yvoir, and Rochefort. Flooded roadways and basements were reported throughout the affected areas, highlighting the severity of the overnight deluge.
The situation in Couvin proved especially critical. A municipal emergency plan was activated around 10 p.m. as a nearby stream overflowed its banks, inundating the town center. Swift water rescue units sprang into action, rescuing approximately twenty people from the “Le Caillou d’Eau” campsite. While the municipal emergency plan was deactivated overnight, Couvin’s central area remained underwater at daybreak.
The severity of the flooding necessitated dramatic action elsewhere. Authorities reactivated the emergency protocol this morning in Couvin to evacuate three individuals and their seven canine companions. Due to inaccessible terrain, a military helicopter was required to airlift them to safety at the “Les Chenaux” campground. This underscores the challenging conditions faced by emergency responders in the aftermath of the Kirk depression. The region’s recovery will undoubtedly require a significant effort, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
