Storm Pia Causes Christmas Market Disaster in Belgium: Investigation Underway

2023-12-21 19:48:00

This Thursday, Belgium was swept by storm Pia. Could it be the winds that caused the disaster that occurred in Oudenaarde at 7 p.m. this evening? It’s still too early to tell, but the fact remains that a decorated tree collapsed on the crowd, in the middle of the Christmas market.

Het Laatste Nieuws and several Flemish media relay the information and even broadcast filmed images of the accident (to discover here). According to an initial report, there were three injured, including one serious. This is a woman who had to be resuscitated. Most of the stands were of course closed and the city mayor, Marnic De Meulemeester (Open VLD), visited the site.

The investigation must now determine the real reasons for the accident. But according to HLN, the tree, which measures 20 meters high and weighs nearly 5 tonnes, had twisted slightly a few weeks ago and had already had to be straightened by the technical services.

Questioned Thursday evening, the mayor, for his part, mentioned a strong gust of wind mixed with heavy rain to explain this dramatic incident.

1703191590
#Drama #Flanders #Christmas #tree #falls #crowd #injured

Photo of author

Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief Prize-winning journalist with over 20 years of international news experience. Alexandra leads the editorial team, ensuring every story meets the highest standards of accuracy and journalistic integrity.

COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for High-Risk Individuals by CISSS de la Gaspésie and the Regional Health Department

Dow Jones opens the market up more than 200 points, bouncing to GDP.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.