Truck catches fire on E17 near Lokeren, highway completely blocked towards Antwerp

A truck fire on the E17 highway near Lokeren, Belgium, has caused a complete closure of the route towards Antwerp. The incident began shortly before 7 p.m. when the truck driver lost control after a tire blowout. The vehicle veered into the central reservation, which ruptured the fuel tank and ignited a blaze that sent smoke billowing high into the air. The driver managed to escape the cabin safely. While firefighters have since extinguished the flames, significant smoke is still present. The Belgian Road and Traffic Agency is on-site to assess the damage to the road surface. Until repairs are completed, the highway remains impassable for traffic heading towards Antwerp, with vehicles being diverted at Beervelde. Traffic is backed up for approximately 2 kilometers, and police are managing the controlled exit of stranded vehicles. The Flemish Traffic Center warns that disruptions could last for a considerable time.