A fire is raging at a factory that makes serviettes in the East Flemish municipality of Merelbeke-Melle on Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters have been dispatched in numbers to tackle the blaze at the factory on the Vijverwegel. A large plume of black smoke has spread over a wide area and can be seen as far as the E40 and even the centre of Gent, around 8km away. The Fire Service advises those living in Merelbeke-Melle and neighbouring municipalities to keep their windows and doors shut.
Fire at East Flemish serviette factory, local residents told to keep their windows and doors shut
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The Fire Service is out in numbers at the Vijverwegel in Merelbeke-Melle, where a lage fire is raging at the warehouse of a company that makes serviettes on Wednesday afternoon. Alderman Pascal Rousseax (Christian democrat) told VRT News. “The company manufactures packaging materials and there is thick smoke. For this reason, the Fire Service is asking people to keep their windows and doors closed. They are doing everything they can to get the fire under control.” The cause of the fire is not yet clear.
A dark plume of smoke can be seen several kilometres away even as far away as the E40 motorway and even in the centre of Ghent.