A tree fell on to the roofs of two adjoining houses on the Maastrichtersteenweg (N79) in Riemst on Sunday morning, causing light damage but no injuries.
The incident happened at about 7:30. Firefighters from the Bilzen-Hoeselt station of the East Limburg emergency zone were called to remove the tree.
The tree was found to be rotten inside. The roofs of both homes suffered minor damage.
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It was the second such incident in Riemst in a matter of days. On Friday, another tree fell along a regional road, the Tongersesteenweg, and that tree also turned out to be diseased.
Mayor Mark Vos visited the scene and called for checks on trees along regional roads. He said responsibility for this lies with the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV).
Vos said he contacted the agency on Sunday morning to request an inspection. He later received confirmation that all the trees would be checked.
He said it was fortunate that no one was hurt, warning that in the worst case a falling tree could strike a pedestrian or cyclist.
Removing the tree on Sunday was not straightforward. Firefighters feared that cutting it up could cause further damage to the roof.
A specialised company was therefore called in. Once the roofs had been cleared, firefighters covered the damaged section with a tarpaulin.
