Mechelen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In July, a storm in Mechelen caused €7.5 million in damage, affecting 638 properties and 500 hectares of farmland. Mayor Bart Somers seeks aid from the Flemish Disaster Fund.
The storm that hit Mechelen in early July caused about 7.5 million euros in damage to many public and private properties. Some of the biggest damages were to public gardens that will need a lot of work to fix. Several important buildings were also damaged, like the church in Heffen, where the tower fell onto the roof, creating serious problems. City Hall and the Vlietenkelder also got damaged, affecting how they work and look. Mayor Bart Somers (Open VLD) explained that the damage is very serious and the repairs needed are large. The harm to important city buildings and public areas affects both how Mechelen looks and its historical value and it impacts the daily services for the community. Fixing everything will take a lot of money and time to do properly.
What was the impact of the exceptional storm in Mechelen, Belgium?
It has been said that after a bad storm, 638 residents reported damage to their properties, showing how widespread the destruction was. This large number of claims highlights how serious the storm was and how much it affected the community. The reported damages likely include different types of property loss, from damage to buildings to personal items, showing the storm’s wide impact and the difficulties faced by those affected.
Twenty-six farmers reported damage affecting more than 500 hectares of farmland. This large area shows that farming operations were seriously impacted, which could disrupt crop production and damage important farming infrastructure. The scale of these claims, along with those from residents, highlights how extraordinary the storm was, leading to it being called an “Exceptional storm” because of its wide-reaching effects.
Somers believes the Flemish Disaster Fund will approve the claims and help pay for damages that insurance won’t cover. He mentioned, “It’s with the Flemish government now, but we’ve never had winds this strong at 145 kilometers per hour. I think this storm has to be seen as a disaster.”
