It will be very hot in Belgium in the coming days. With temperatures of up to 38°C expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has issued a code orange warning for heat. Here is an overview of everything affected by the heat in the country.
A 'code orange' warning for heat means that certain measures are necessary, according to the RMI. "Drink regularly, dress lighter, spend the day in cooler rooms, regularly monitor their health, eat easily digestible food (and in smaller portions), keep doors and windows closed to keep the heat out."
Tuesday will be very warm with maximum temperatures of 35-36°C across the country, and 38°C in Brussels – making it the warmest 1 July in Belgium since records began. The sun is burning, with a "very high" UV-index of 8.4 on Tuesday, meaning that people will very quickly get a sunburn if they do not protect themselves.
The RMI officially speaks of a "national heat wave" when the maximum temperatures in the measuring station in Uccle reach at least 25°C for at least five consecutive days, with at least 30°C being reached on at least three days.
Atomium closes early
The Atomium will close to visitors at 14:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the extreme heat.
The temperature in the spheres, which are made of stainless steel, can rise particularly high due to the heat. Due to the "restrictions in the structure of the building," it becomes particularly warm inside. The last visitors are allowed in at 13:00. Those who bought a ticket online can use it at a later time, until the end of the year.
This is the second time in the history of the Atomium that the monument is closing early due to heat. The first time was in the summer of 2019.
In France, meanwhile, the same measures are being taken for the national monument: the upper parts of the Eiffel Tower in Paris have been closed to visitors since 13:00 on Monday and will remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the extreme heat that is hitting France is expected to reach its peak today.
The Atomium. Credit: Brussels City
Trains cancelled, minor incidents on tracks
Around 20 P-trains (peak hour trains) to and from Brussels that only run during rush hours have been cancelled and Tuesday, announced national railway operator SNCB/NMBS.
High temperatures can also have consequences for the railway infrastructure (expansion of tracks and overhead lines) and for the trains (faults in the air conditioning). The teams of SNCB/NMBS and rail network manager Infrabel are on standby around the clock, and their capacity is being reinforced. In very hot weather, more trains equipped with air conditioning will also be deployed on the busiest routes.
Travellers are advised to drink enough water, work from home if possible and avoid travelling during peak hours.
Meanwhile, several minor incidents have taken place on the rails as a result of the heat, according to rail infrastructure manager Infrabel.
High temperatures can have an impact on overhead lines, tracks or signals. The overhead lines can sag, and the metal of the tracks can expand. Infrabel is sending out dozens of teams to carry out checks or repair damage, said spokesperson Frédéric Petit.
Credit: SNCB/NMBS
On Monday evening, a train was stuck in Wuustwezel for a while, and there were many minor incidents. On Tuesday afternoon, a freight train broke down in Haacht, between Mechelen and Leuven, causing the two passenger trains behind it to come to a standstill for at least 15 minutes.
On the high-speed line between Brussels and France, a preventive speed limit of 170 km/h applies between 12:00 and 20:00, Infrabel reports. Normally, speeds of up to 300 km/h are allowed there.
Do not leave children alone in a car, fire brigade warns
The Brussels fire brigade is calling on people not to leave young children alone in a car, even for a short time. "In this weather, a small mistake can have fatal consequences."
During this ongoing heat wave, the fire brigade is warning the population about what it calls "an often underestimated danger": leaving young children alone in a car. "A car can turn into an oven in a matter of minutes. This is due to the greenhouse effect, sunlight enters through the windows and gets trapped in the vehicle, causing the interior temperature to rise rapidly."
With an outside temperature of 30°C, the temperature in a car can rise to 45°C after just ten minutes, and even exceed 60°C after 30 minutes, according to the fire brigade. "The bodies of young children are not yet able to regulate heat efficiently. In an overheated car, they quickly run the risk of serious dehydration, heat stroke or hyperthermia, brain damage, and in the most tragic cases even death."
The fire brigade stressed that opening a window a crack is not enough. "Even a few minutes are life-threatening. We call on everyone to be vigilant and to show solidarity. Do you see a child alone in a car in high temperatures? Call the emergency services immediately on the emergency number 112."
Illustration image of a car in the sun. Credit: Belga
Charleroi tackles illegal swimming
The city of Charleroi (Hainaut) is carrying out increased controls on and around the site of the former Gralex quarry in Mont-sur-Marchienne on Tuesday. The day before, around 100 people who were illegally swimming there were evacuated by local police.
Over the years, the former quarry has become a popular swimming spot on hot days. However, the site is private and access is prohibited, and it is also particularly dangerous due to the presence of vortices that can sweep swimmers away, as well as significant temperature differences between the surface and deeper water layers.
In 2018 and 2022, two deaths were recorded.
More information will be added to this article as it comes in.
