Flooding hits parts of southern Belgium

Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall have brought flooding to large parts of Belgium over the weekend.

The worst affected area was Walloon Brabant, where the towns of Jodoigne, Ramillies and Orp-Jauche were forced to trigger emergency action. Parts of Flemish Brabant, Namur and Luxembourg provinces also suffered flood damage.

Jodoigne firefighters were called into action on Saturday afternoon, with more than 150 emergency phone calls made by residents relating to flooding in basements and homes, and on roads.

To cope with the magnitude of swamping, firefighters were given access to reinforcements from Tubize, Nivelles, Braine-l'Alleud and Wavre fire stations, such as water pumps and vehicles.

A crisis centre was established in the town, and a second in neighbouring Ramillies. About 40 young scouts who camped on meadows in Jauchelette and Glimes, sub-municipalities of Jodoigne, were evacuated from the area after severe flooding and escorted to the Clair Séjour nursing home in Tienen.

In Flemish Brabant, emergency action was undertaken in Linter and Kortenaken, where homes, basements and streets were overflowing with water.

"Almost half of the town is under water," said Kortenaken mayor Patrick Vandijck on Saturday. "The fire department has received more than 200 calls just from our town. I requisitioned the municipal staff, including those on holiday. The reinforcement of Civil Protection has also been requested."

Homes in Linter were reported to have been immersed in 50-60cm of water, and even one metre of water was reported in the most-affected areas.

There were several accounts of various groups of scouts being troubled by the floods, all over Luxembourg province. In La Roche-en-Ardenne, 50 of them, camping in Ronchamps, were forced to evacuate the area. Additionally, 15 scouts in Paliseul and a dozen in Bouillon were affected by thunderstorms and heavy rain, on Saturday.

In Virton, Luxembourg province, 20 houses were flooded after a nearby stream overflowed. Firefighters were on hand to block the flood with sandbags. Luckily, the evacuation of residents was not necessary.

Namur province also suffered, with 200 campers in Houyet being forced to abandon the area after the Lesse river flooded. Dinant was also affected