Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In an expected storm the Belgian government has activated the non-emergency number 1722 for fire brigade assistance so as to avoid overloading the emergency line 112. Because heavy rain and strong winds are expected a code yellow has been issued.
Aiming to avert overcrowding in telephones in case of emergencies 112 it has been decided that the number 1722 will be available for more minor fire accidents during the current thunderstorm. The people can seek help from fire brigades who are not dealing with life-threatening situations but still represented by them.
What should you know about Belgium’s storm warning and emergency contacts?
The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) is forecasting heavy rain over a short period due to anticipated storm showers which bring in powerful gusts. For this reason there could be winds of up to 70-80 km/h and some spot gusts may even exceed that level. The whole country everywhere in Belgium is on yellow alert from 15:00 until 22:00. The alert warns people to be careful and ready for possible adverse weather conditions then.
The government has called for the number 1722 to be turned on after the storm in order to avoid overloading of the emergency service number 112. In case of severe wind or rain damages one can reach firefighter services by calling 1722 instead of making unnecessary calls to the emergency line. The Ministry of Home Affairs advises that during bad weather utilizing its websites online form is one sure way to reach the fire department. There is a number given for calling purposes. When there is an immediate danger to life calling 112 should be done without delay.
