Severe dune fire halts traffic along Belgian coast

A significant dune fire broke out on Sunday afternoon near the Wrakhoutbrug, situated between the Belgian coastal towns of Blankenberge and Wenduine, prompting a major emergency response.

The blaze, which started shortly after 4 p.m., quickly intensified with multiple ignition points reported across the dunes. The dry conditions and strong winds fueled the fire's rapid spread, leaving substantial areas of the natural landscape blackened. The proximity of a large campsite to the affected dunes raised concerns, although the extent of the damage to the campsite itself was not immediately clear.

Local authorities have cordoned off the area, and all traffic along the coastal road in that section has been brought to a standstill. Public transportation, including trams and buses operating between Wenduine and Blankenberge, has also been suspended. The disruption extended as far as Knokke-Heist, with significant delays and the implementation of replacement bus services that rerouted inland via Zuienkerke.

Stijn Biebauw, spokesperson for the local police zone Bredene/De Haan, described the incident as a "severe fire." Firefighters are actively working to contain the flames and assess the full scale of the affected area. Frederik Wittock, another spokesperson, indicated that there is currently no clear timeline for when the situation will be resolved, emphasizing the challenges posed by the weather conditions in controlling the blaze.

“

De brandweer is volop bezig met het vuur en de oppervlakte in kaart te brengen