The fire brigade in Picardy Wallonia intervened about 30 times between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning following the violent thunderstorms that battered Western Hainaut. The emergency services also battled two fires in Tournai and Ath.
The first thunderclaps occurred around 11.00 p.m. on Tuesday in Western Hainaut. The severe lightning was quickly followed by torrential rain. Firemen from various stations in Picardy Wallonia went into action in about 30 cases, mainly to cut up trees that had fallen on roads.
At around 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire personnel in Ath put out a fire that broke out in a building on Ouedeghien Street after it was hit by lightning. No one was injured.
The fire services also battled a fire at a house on Lille Road in Orcq (Tournai) from around 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Here again, no injuries were reported.
The extent of the damage caused by the two fires is yet to be determined.
The interventions linked to the thunderstorms were completed by 6.00 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Brussels Times
