Belgium devastated by flooding for second time in just over a week

Belgium has been hit by floods for the second time in just over a week.

The provinces of Namur and Walloon Brabant southeast of the capital city Brussels were among the worst hit, after thunderstorms and heavy rain reached the country on Saturday.

In Dinant, in the Walloon region, heavy rainfall washed away cars, leaving them strewn across the town.

Deputy mayor Robert Closset said no deaths or injuries had been reported but that the floods were worse than last week’s.

Firefighters were deployed to help people and Mr Closset told the Associated Press: “I’ve been living here all my life and I’ve never seen this before.”

The province of Liege was also badly affected last week but rivers are not expected to overflow significantly this weekend and there is no need to evacuate the area yet, officials said.

More than 210 people died in the floods in western Europe last week, with most of the casualties in Belgium and Germany.

Heavy rainfall washed away cars, leaving them strewn across the town. Pic: Julie Just

The cost of recovery is expected to be billions of euros.

Many scientists blamed climate change, warning that such events will become more frequent and severe, meaning countries will have to adapt.

This will include re-examining flood risk calculations, preparing populations and improving warning systems.