BRUSSELS  -The fire brigades throughout Oost-Vlaanderen received more than 100 phone calls for assistance because of the heavy rainfall on Thursday. Most of the calls came from Sint-Niklaas, Herzele, Waasmunster and Zottegem.

Several streets in Herzele and Zottegem were under water on Thursday evening and many cellars flooded. The church in Herzele was flooded after the drainage system became blocked.

Streets in Nieuwkerken and Belsele had to be closed off because of flooding. Fire brigades had to help with flooded cellars in these towns as well. Waasmunster, Kruibeke, Berlare and Wichelen were also hit very hard.

Water had to be pumped off the E40 In Wetteren at one point and traffic piled up after an accident on the Brussels-bound lanes. There were three accidents on the Antwerp-bound E17 between 6 and 7 pm.

Other parts of the country were badly affected as well, including Blankenberge in West-Vlaanderen and the Greater Brussels area. A train in Schaarsbeek was hit by lightning, which caused damage to the vehicle but luckily no injuries.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news