Belgium: Emergency number of 1722 activated; code yellow warning issued against thunderstorms

The emergency number “1722” has been temporarily activated, while a code yellow warning has also been issued in light of thunderstorms that will move across Belgium on Sunday.

The warning has been issued by the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) for thunderstorms which are expected to affect all provinces around the nation on Sunday evening until midnight, bringing some heavy rain and wind gusts. It has issued a code yellow warning as a result of this forecast.

The RMI has made an announcement that, “Tonight, some strong rain and thunderstorms will pass over the nation from the Southwest, which may very locally be accompanied by some hail.”

In most parts of the country, the warning will be de-activated from 23:00, however, in the provinces of Limburg, Liège and Luxembourg, code yellow will remain in force until midnight.

Local wind gusts between 80 and 100 kilometres per hour or more are not out of the question. At the peak of the thunderstorms, there is also a chance that between 10 and 20 litres of rain per square metre could fall in a short period of time.

The FPS Home Affairs activated the emergency number 1722, meaning anyone suffering storm and water damage requiring assistance from the fire brigade in the coming hours can submit a request via the e-desk at www.1722.be or call the number 1722.

The number 112 remains available, but only for situations where someone finds themselves in a life-threatening situation.