DistantNews
Support us
🇧🇪 Belgium /Disasters & Emergencies

Nacht Van Vlaanderen in Torhout last minute canceled due to predicted storm weather: "Want to avoid disasters like at Pukkelpop"

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The "Nacht van Vlaanderen" (Night of Flanders) walking and running event in Torhout was canceled due to predicted storm weather.
  • The city council decided not to take risks, citing severe thunderstorms with hail and wind gusts expected.
  • Organizers aimed to avoid a disaster similar to the Pukkelpop festival incident years ago.

The "Nacht van Vlaanderen" (Night of Flanders) event in Torhout, Belgium, scheduled for this evening, has been canceled due to severe weather forecasts. The city, in consultation with its municipal safety cell, made the difficult decision to cancel the event, which was expected to draw 11,800 participants.

This decision was enormously difficult, because this was supposed to be the most beautiful day of the year.

— Mayor Kristof AudenaertExpressing the difficulty of canceling the event.

Mayor Kristof Audenaert described the cancellation as a "huge blow," as the event, often called the "most beautiful day of the year," primarily takes participants through parks and forests. The decision was made after receiving warnings from provincial services about the impending storm. Weather services predicted a high probability of severe thunderstorms, including hail and strong wind gusts, between 6 PM and 11 PM.

For our Nacht van Vlaanderen, which I always describe as our most beautiful day of the year, that is a huge blow, as around 12,000 participants (walkers and runners) mainly trek through parks and forests.

— Mayor Kristof AudenaertExplaining the impact of the weather on the event's route.

Audenaert expressed his personal distress, noting the months of training undertaken by many participants. The event also included the Belgian 10 km running championship. The mayor emphasized his responsibility to prioritize safety, drawing a parallel to the dangerous storm that hit the Pukkelpop festival years ago, stating that such risks could not be taken.

The tears were really in my eyes.

— Mayor Kristof AudenaertDescribing his emotional reaction to the cancellation.

While organizers considered adjusting the course, they encountered too many obstacles, particularly for the Belgian championship which requires a pre-approved route. The severe weather outlook made any adjustments unfeasible. Efforts are underway to determine if the Belgian championship can be rescheduled, but other races within the "Nacht van Vlaanderen" are expected to remain canceled.

As a politician, you have to take responsibility at such moments and prioritize safety.

— Mayor Kristof AudenaertJustifying the decision to cancel based on safety concerns.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog