Coast plagued with flooding

8 August 2007

BRUSSELS – Many areas on the coast are flooded after heavy rainfall this morning. De Panne and Koksijde in particular have been hard hit. Many streets are underwater and countless cellars and garages are flooded. The fire brigade has been busy lending assistance all morning.

77 litres of water fell on the coastal town of Koksijde in just a few hours time. That is about the normal rainfall level for the whole month of August, says meteorologist Eddy De Mey.

Amusement park Plopsaland in De Panne will remain closed today. “The parking lots, rides and restaurants are all under water,” says Steve Van den Kerkhof of Plopsaland. Management is urging people not to come to the park. “We’ve talked with the mayor and the fire brigade and extra firemen are now being deployed to help pump the water out of the amusement park.”

Van den Kerkhof says there has been a great deal of damage, but it is still too earlier to put a price tag on it. “We are going to clean up all day and night and hope that we can open our doors again tomorrow.”

Subject: Belgian news