Firefighters intervened on Saturday to address a significant oil spill in Ath (Wallonia), leading to the closure of the Dender waterway.
Emergency services responded shortly after 08:00 to reports of a strong odour on Rue du Rivage in Ath. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered substantial pollution in the Dender canal, with an oil slick visible on the water’s surface. Several logistics trucks, a boat truck, and a command vehicle were dispatched to the scene.
The downstream lock, which manages boat traffic on the Dendre, was promptly closed, halting all river traffic. The Department of Police and Controls, the environmental police, and the waterways authority also participated in the operation.
By 09:30, rescue services used their zodiac boat to contain the oil slick and then proceeded to break it up. “We use a product that fragments the slick, and each piece is then destroyed by UV rays,” explained Captain Gil Van Houck, who led the intervention.
“The source of the pollution has been identified. A leak in a boiler connection at Épicura Hospital in Ath caused the fuel spill into the Dender. The leak has been repaired and everything is under control,” announced the officer at approximately 14:30.
