The historic floods that hit Belgium in the middle of the week killed at least 31 people, according to an official report released on Sunday (July 18) by the authorities, who announced the end of the rescue operations.
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“
The danger is no longer imminent in the affected areas. The rescue operations are over but search operations are still underway in a number of areas,
”the Belgian crisis center announced in a statement Sunday evening. "
The major cleaning work and the estimation of material damage are now at the center of concerns,
" the same source said. The previous report on Saturday evening had reported 27 dead.
In addition, "
163 citizens are presumed missing
" Sunday, against 103 the day before, said the crisis center.
In the disaster areas, mainly in the south and east of the country, police officers were mobilized to knock on the doors of homes in order to discover possible new victims.
"
Many people are currently without means of communication following the loss of their phone, or the lack of means to recharge their battery
" and some others "
were taken to a hospital without identity papers
", but the anxiety grows with the passing hours.
The weather improved with the end of precipitation on Friday, and sun and summer temperatures since Saturday.
As a result, the level of the rivers has receded, revealing landscapes of desolation.
In Pepinster, the most affected municipality in the country, more than a thousand people have had to leave their homes.
According to the authorities, just over 37,000 households were still without electricity on Sunday and 3,600 were without gas.
Regarding train traffic, 45% of lines nationwide were affected by traffic disruptions until Sunday evening, according to rail network manager Infrabel.
On "
many sections, there is still very heavy work in progress
" or to be expected, told AFP a spokesperson, Jessica Nibelle, referring for example to a collapsed bridge with 6 km of tracks to be completely redone.
But she indicated that the main lines between Charleroi, Namur and Liège would reopen on Monday.
“
Avoid traveling to the affected provinces.
Many roads are flooded or dangerous,
”asked the crisis center.
While many Belgians have mobilized in recent days to spontaneously provide aid to the disaster victims, the authorities invite to give priority to financial donations to the Red Cross. The influx of people, including curious people, had caused traffic jams and hampered the flow of emergency services on Saturday.