Trees felled in Brussels centre after tree falls on restaurant terrace during Storm Austen, emergency centres saturated by calls

The City of Brussels preventively felled trees in Rue du Marché aux Herbes after a large tree fell on the terrace of Brasserie Ommegang, injuring three people, during Storm Austen.

“There was too great a risk that this would also happen to the other trees. That's why we had no choice but to cut down those trees,” said Brussels alderman for heritage, sports and green spaces, Florence Frelinx (MR), reports Bruzz.

Strong gusts of wind on Friday caused a large tree to fall on the restaurant terrace. Three people were taken to hospital with one reported to have serious injuries. “Fortunately, his life is no longer in danger,” Frelinx wrote on social media.

“The investigation into the health status of the fallen tree and the rising roots of the surrounding trees has shown that there is an immediate risk that the other trees on the square will also fall over,” she added.

All the trees in the busy tourist area near the Grand Place were either cut down or stripped of their branches the same evening, despite the stormy weather.

Frelinx thanked city of Brussels workers as well as the fire brigade and the police “for their efforts in difficult circumstances”.

Although she could not confirm the exact date, she told Bruzz that new trees would be planted as soon as possible.

Over 12,000 calls to emergency centres on Friday

Storm Austen caused heavy gusts of wind and rainfall across Belgium on Friday. In the capital, Brussels fire brigade had already called on residents to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. All parks, forests and potentially dangerous green areas closed at 12.00.

In addition to the three people injured by a falling tree in Rue du Marché aux Herbes, one person was injured by a broken branch falling on his head in Avenue de Tervuren in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

The storm resulted in emergency call centres — handling lines 112, 1722 and 1733 — receiving more than 12,000 calls, according to the Federal Public Service (FPS) interior ministry, reports RTBF.

The 112 line, reserved for life-threatening emergencies, handled 10,029 calls alone. Meanwhile, the 1722 line, designated for fire department interventions not involving an immediate threat to life, and the 1733 line for non-urgent medical assistance, recorded 1,345 and 675 calls, respectively.

The peak in activity occurred between 15.00 and 17.00, with 3,831 incoming calls during those two hours. Another surge, totalling 729 additional requests, was observed between 21.00 and 22.00, a time when authorities confirmed call centres had become "saturated."

“To ensure that 112 centres can prioritise life-threatening emergencies, it is essential that the 112 number be reserved for such critical situations, and that the online portal 1722.be be used for non-urgent requests for fire department assistance,” FPS Interior underlined.

Photo: ©Brussels Fire Brigade