"We Lost Everything": Scenes of Desolation After Floods Devastate Wallonia

Wallonia is grappling with scenes of devastation following severe storms that struck Saturday night and Sunday morning, causing extensive damage across the region. The Val de Sambre emergency zone, spanning Namur and Hainaut provinces, reported nearly 1,500 interventions as floodwaters surged.

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The priority was to save people in danger. We had a couple with a pregnant woman taking refuge on the roof of their flooded home. People found themselves trapped in their cars as well.

Colonel Marc Gilbert, head of the Val de Sambre zone, described the critical situation, stating, "The priority was to save people in danger." He recounted instances of a couple trapped on their roof and individuals caught in their vehicles. Despite the weather service issuing a code orange alert, the reality was a code red, with water levels reaching up to 1.5 meters in some areas.

During the weekend, approximately forty firefighters worked tirelessly, with reinforcements arriving to manage the overwhelming workload. Colonel Gilbert highlighted the effective coordination between the six communes within the zone and the emergency services, noting significant solidarity, offers of temporary housing, and efforts to clear roads for unimpeded access. "This ensured greater efficiency," he added.

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The problem is that the Orneau river overflows whenever there is a storm. Because the street is in a basin, it cannot store water, and everything overflows, even though we are not in a flood zone to begin with.

Jemeppe-sur-Sambre in Namur province was among the hardest-hit areas, experiencing severe flooding for the second time in five years. A local resident explained the recurring issue: "The problem is that the Orneau river overflows whenever there is a storm. Because the street is in a basin, it cannot store water, and everything overflows, even though we are not in a flood zone to begin with."

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In one house, a lady was alone with her children. The firefighters had to get the children out through the window and take them by boat.

Residents expressed profound despair. Marie-Claire and Gérard, who had to rebuild after the 2021 floods, stated, "We lost everything again." Many are also dealing with power outages. Meanwhile, a veterinary clinic, Delta Vet, also sustained damage to its equipment, including X-ray and ultrasound machines, mirroring the losses experienced in 2021. The popular amusement park Walibi was also impacted, with several attractions damaged and parts of the park rendered inaccessible.

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We had to redo everything after the floods in 2021. Everything was new! And now, it's happening again. We lost everything.