No rain on July 14, but generous sunshine in contrast to the floods that devastated the Vesdre valley just a year ago, killing 39 people and flooding nearly 10,000 hectares.
On this sad first anniversary, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde went to Limbourg in the morning, as well as Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo and Governor of the province of Liège Hervé Jamar. Arrived at the municipal administration at 9:30 a.m., the royal couple spoke with affected traders, the emergency services and the municipal authorities.
The couple then went to Place Léon d’Andrimont, in the center of Dolhain. On the few tens of meters which separate the places, a walkregarding was organized with the hundred citizens who came to greet the sovereigns and thank them for their presence. The royal couple then took part in a brunch, in the company of disaster-stricken Limburgers with whom they exchanged, being attentive to their stories and their emotions.
After spending an hour and a half in Limbourg, the sovereigns took the road towards Chênée where a tribute ceremony was organized by the Walloon Region at 12:30 p.m.
A large marquee was erected for the occasion on the Place du Gravier, bringing together representatives of the municipal, provincial and federal authorities, but also members of the Civil Protection, the police and firefighters, and associations, but also the families of the victims. .
In all, more than 400 people attended the ceremony which started with a speech by the mayor of Liège Willy Demeyer, who recalled that 209 Walloon municipalities out of 262 were, with varying degrees of severity, affected by the floods. “A tremendous solidarity was immediately implemented” from citizens, associations, security services, etc. “Faced with the immensity of the challenges, much has been done but much remains to be done”, with regard to reconstruction, stating that “local authorities remain alongside the wounded citizens”.
Tribute to the victims
“July 14, 2021 is one of those days that will mark our history”underlined for his part Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, expressing “in the name of all Belgians” on “compassion” to the victims and their relatives. “They thought they were enjoying the summer following the pandemic, they’ve been through hell.” He also paid tribute to human solidarity, “to these men and women, these heroes who saved lives, sometimes at the risk of their lives”. He recalled the promise made a year ago, “that of acting, of moving forward, but we must be lucid, rebuilding will not be enough. We cannot wait for the next floods”emphasizing Belgium’s role in climate matters, particularly at COP 26. “We can and must go further.”
The Minister-President of Wallonia Elio Di Rupo for his part paid tribute to the victims, addressing their relatives: “A year later, the streams have returned to their bed. But I know grief, your grief, still covers territory […]. It is to leave no one to their grief, to their wanderings, that we wanted to organize this ceremony.“One way,” he said, “to offer our condolences”. “We wanted it this way because your drama has upset all the inhabitants of the Kingdom.”
And ask to accept “words of comfort and respect” authorities while “Justice examines the circumstances of this tragedy and will establish possible responsibilities”.
All of the speeches were interspersed with musical interludes, such as when we only have love by Jacques Brel. The ceremony ended with a minute of silence, followed by the Belgian national anthem, La Brabançonne.
The royal couple left discreetly, towards the Cultural Center of Chênée where a meeting was organized, in the intimacy, with the families of the deceased.
