Storm Ciarán wreaked havoc across Flanders and its capital on Thursday. West and East Flanders bore the brunt of the storm, but other Flemish provinces were affected too. Fire-fighters had their hands full dealing with the damage. Travel was widely disrupted with fewer trains running and fewer cities being served. Fallen trees affected both road and rail travel. Navigation to and from the ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Ghent was also affected with shipping being brought to a halt for many hours. Aviation too was hit with Ostend-Bruges and Antwerp airports being closed to traffic and Brussels Airport down to one single runway.
Home News
Storm Ciarán causes widespread disruption and claims two lives in Ghent (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
Published:
Updated:
The storm claimed a first life on Thursday afternoon after a tree fell on two people strolling in Ghent’s Citadel Park. A 64-year-old woman was killed on the spot. Her daughter was taken to hospital seriously injured where she is undergoing an operation. The dead woman's husband, who was with them, was unscathed. Several fire trucks and two ambulances attended the scene. The park has numerous entrances and is hard to cordon off city authorities say. Police have asked the public to avoid the park for the time being.
Later, also in Ghent, a 5-year-old boy was killed at a playground when he was crushed by limbs coming off a tree.
In Leuven (Flemish Brabant) a 15-year-old girl was injured when a plank fell on top of her as she walked past the courthouse.
A man was also seriously injured in Deurne (Antwerp) when the wall of a hangar collapsed.