The number of interventions for flooding in Westhoek remains limited for the time being

The number of interventions for flooding in the Westhoek remained limited last night, the Westhoek fire brigade reported. “We continue to pump preventively and keep a close eye on the water levels,” it said. But this afternoon a rain zone will again move across our country.

Due to the predicted heavy rainfall, the governor of West Flanders announced the provincial disaster plan yesterday. A BE-Alert was also sent to warn residents of Lo-Reninge, Alveringem, Poperinge and Vleteren about flooding. But for now the damage seems to be not too bad. “The number of interventions for flooding decreased last night,” says Kristof Louagie of the Westhoek fire brigade. “We will continue to pump preventively at the lock complex in Nieuwpoort and keep a close eye on the water level of the IJzer.”

From the afternoon onwards, a precipitation zone will again move from west to east across our country. According to weather forecasts, 10 to 20 liters of rain per square meter may fall in the Westhoek. Code red was also announced yesterday in the French department of Pas-de-Calais, which has consequences for waterways in our country. The excess rainwater from France flows to the sea via the Leie and the Yser Basin.

According to waterinfo.be, the water level of the IJzer is rising slightly, and the water level of the Leie from the Sint-Baafs-Vijve lock complex towards Deinze and the Tourist Leie is approaching the alarm thresholds.