The situation with regard to flooding in the Westhoek area of West Flanders appears to have remained stable overnight with no reports of additional flood-related issues. However, the Provincial Governor of West Flanders Carl Decaluwé (Christian democrat) warns that the situation is entirely dependent on the amount of rain that falls during the next few days. "Let's hope that we get a few days with little rain, so that the water can start to recede."
On Thursday it was all hands on deck in the west of West Flanders to ensure that as much water as possible could be pumped away and to install reinforcements to flood defences and evacuate residents where this was deemed necessary. A lot of rain had been forecast for Thursday night. However, the Westhoek area was spared and areas in the West of Wallonia took the burnt of Thursday night’s downpours.
The Provincial Governor of West Flanders Carl Decaluwé told VRT News that no additional problems were reported last night. "The work we did yesterday appears to have served its purpose. The Winterdijk in De Blankaart has held up." The Winterdijk is a long berm of earth between the villages of Woumen (Diksmuide) and Merkem (Houthulst). It was constructed a few years ago to cope with high water levels. It is the largest dike in the area. "The Winterdijk is 5 meters high, water levels have also reached about this height. The Waterways Department is monitoring the situation."
At some locations the water levels are still rising, but elsewhere they are falling. Governor Decaluwé says that the situation varies greatly from place to place.
"We are entirely dependent on whether there will be any more rain, how much of it falls and where. Let us hope that we get a few days with little rain, that the situation remains stable and the water can start to subside." Mr Decaluwé also stresses that "we will have to see what else comes our way from Northern France."
Friday started overcast, with some showers possible. In the afternoon it will be drier in coastal areas. "We do not expect large amounts of precipitation today, but tomorrow it is a different matter," the VRT’s weatherman Bram Verbruggen says.
A front bringing rain will cross Belgium from the coast again on Friday night. On Saturday "We will have grey and wet weather all day long, with long periods of rain in many places. We currently estimate 5 to 10 litres of water per m² with 15 litres per m² in some areas. The worst case scenario is 20 litres per m². Once again it will be the west of the country that will see the greatest amount of precipitation."
A lot of rain is also expected on Monday.
