2023-11-17 12:16:55
The weather forecast in the Westhoek is slightly more favorable than expected this Thursday. But the emergency services are nevertheless ready to intervene.
25 houses evacuated
Significant rainfall was initially expected on Thursday along the French border. However, the current weather forecast is slightly more favorable. “But we remain vigilant“, insist the firefighters.
As a precaution, around twenty families were evacuated in Noordschote and Reninge, in the municipality of Lo-Reninge, due to heavy rainfall, the crisis unit of the province of West Flanders announced on Thursday.
Around twenty-five houses were also to be evacuated on Wednesday in Woomen (Diksmuide) and Merkem (Houthulst).
But the authorities do not expect the alarm level to be exceeded in Roesbrugge (Poperinge) and Stavele (Alveringem). The critical points concern Fintele (Lo-Reninge) as well as the Winterdijk and the Yser dike in Diksmuide.
Additional dike in the Ledeghem region
In addition to the Westhoek, the region surrounding the municipality of Ledeghem, north of Kortrijk, is also plagued by flooding. Firefighters therefore began building an additional dike on Thursday to better protect the Hemelhoek district.
“The Heulebeek burst its banks, causing flooding in Ledeghem. A dike is being built to protect the Hemelhoek district“, indicated the emergency planning service of the province of West Flanders. Residents are transported by taxi-tractor.
“The situation is being closely monitored. If necessary, pumps will be deployed and houses will be protected by sandbags. The Groen Lint district in Moorsele (Wevelgem) is under pressure and the water level also remains high in the Ypres region“, explains the emergency planning service of the province of West Flanders.
Le traffic interrompu au complex éclusier de Terneuzen
The Terneuzen lock complex will be closed to navigation from Thursday evening in order to promote the evacuation of water via the Ghent-Terneuzen canal, reports the agency which manages the waterways in Flanders, Flanders Waterweg.
For the past week, the agency has been working with the Netherlands to drain additional water from Flemish rivers at an accelerated pace due to severe weather.
“The floods in West and East Flanders are significant and all the authorities concerned are making immense efforts on the ground to avoid a worsening of the situation.“, explains Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters.
A call center, reachable at 0800/14.689, was activated on Wednesday evening to allow residents to ask their questions relating to the floods. The number 1722 and the electronic counter www.1722.be have also been activated for non-urgent firefighter interventions.
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