2023-11-15 18:00:00
The provinces located further north should be less affected, but it cannot be ruled out that the situation will be reviewed in a future update.
The IRM explains that great uncertainty remains regarding the level of precipitation expected on Thursday, due to the fluctuating trajectory of a depression. These might reach a cumulative of 25 to 50 mm in certain parts of the provinces where the alert level has been raised.
Residents evacuated in West Flanders
Concerning West Flanders, the accumulation might locally reach 25 mm in 24 hours, but the current problems caused by rain in part of the province justify the move to code yellow, explains the IRM.
The residents of around 25 houses in the villages of Woomen and Merkem in West Flanders will be evacuated preventively, the local rescue zone said on Wednesday. The high water level at the winter dike remains worrying, according to firefighters. The police will inform the residents concerned and give them instructions. They will be hosted in the Heuvelhuis multipurpose hall in Klerken.
Emergency services have been trying to evacuate the water towards the sea for days, but heavy rains on Tuesday once once more caused the alert thresholds to be exceeded in several places in the Westhoek.
In these circumstances, the crisis unit of the province of West Flanders decided on Wednesday followingnoon to prepare evacuations. Indeed, further precipitation might cause flooding on Thursday.
In total, 25 houses will therefore be evacuated Wednesday evening or Thursday morning: 15 houses in Woomen and 10 in Merkem. The police will inform the residents concerned. According to the firefighters and the crisis unit, there is no question of carrying out further evacuations for the moment.
On the East Flanders side, where the Lys also crossed the alert threshold, Governor Carina Van Cauter declared the provincial disaster plan. On Wednesday followingnoon, a consultation took place between river managers, the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM), mayors and security services, because precipitation is still expected in the coming days.
Residents are invited to keep an eye on the communication channels of their city or municipality, which may need to take measures at the local level. They are also asked to avoid non-essential travel in the event of heavy rain.
The Province also reminds that citizens can call the number 1722, intended for non-urgent firefighter interventions.
1700077555
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