A major disaster in Belgium
This Thursday at around 2 p.m., an accident occurred in Houdeng, Belgium. A bridge that had been under renovation for some time collapsed while workers were working on it.
A grave toll after the tragedy
The damage is enormous. But the worst part is the human suffering. One worker was killed in the accident, and three others were injured.
The scenario of the tragedy revealed
The bridge spanned the Canal du Centre on the E42 motorway. It had been demolished since the end of February. It collapsed as a result of a “catastrophic, almost unbelievable scenario,” explained Benoît Filippi, a police officer called to the scene.
The cranes collapsed
The central section of the bridge fell into the water, sweeping away the cranes on top. The deceased worker was operating one of these construction machines. The three injured people were working on the bridge. “Unfortunately, the toll could have been even worse,” explained the mayor.
How are the injured? (5/10)
Twelve people were on the bridge when the accident occurred. Fortunately, the injured are not in critical condition. “There was no alarming news last night. They are, of course, still receiving medical care, but their lives are not in danger,” said the mayor.
A Precisely Organized Rescue (6/10)
Rescue crews arrived quickly on the scene and had their hands full providing care for the workers. “The greatest danger for our emergency services was a further collapse of the structure,” explained a police captain coordinating the teams.
A Dilapidated Bridge (7/10)
The bridge over the Canal du Centre dates back to the 1960s. “It was showing some signs of aging, so we decided to demolish it and rebuild it. Construction began in February 2024 and should be completed in February 2026,” explained Luc Gosselin, director of Sofico.
Residents are shocked (8/10)
After the accident, people in the region expressed their shock. “We used this bridge often, and we wonder if this could have happened earlier – including with vehicles on it,” said a passerby.
The impact on drivers (9/10)
To allow investigators to investigate, the E42 motorway was closed for several hours. The area is now open again, although the accident site remains closed to the public.
Mourning after the shock (10/10)
Residents were shocked after hearing the news of a worker’s death. “When you’re at work, you never know what can happen. But this is really sad,” a witness told RTL Info.
