Brussels closes parks and Sonian Forest as Storm Austen hits
Brussels shut all its parks, nature reserves and the Sonian Forest from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning because of Storm Austen.
Also in:Nederlands
Officials in Brussels ordered every park, nature reserve and wooded area under their care, including the Sonian Forest, closed from Saturday afternoon as Storm Austen bore down on the region, with a reopening pencilled in for Monday morning, the regional agency Brussels Environment announced.
Forecasters at the Royal Meteorological Institute were predicting gusts of up to 70 kilometres an hour, and the agency told people in and around the capital to keep well clear of trees while the storm passed through.
Some limits on entry had already taken hold from midday on Friday, French-language paper La Libre noted. Once conditions calm down, teams from Brussels Environment plan to check each site for hazards, clear any debris and make the grounds safe again before letting visitors back in.
Earlier in the week, Brussels firefighters and emergency services had urged residents to put off non-essential journeys, pointing out that loose items left on balconies, terraces or in gardens could become dangerous in high winds. They also recommended shutting doors and windows and moving cars well away from trees and scaffolding.
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What we know
- Official · Brussels Environment Brussels closed all its parks, nature reserves and forests, including the Sonian Forest, from Saturday afternoon because of Storm Austen.
- Official · Brussels Environment The closures are expected to last until Monday morning, Brussels Environment said.
- Official · Royal Meteorological Institute The Royal Meteorological Institute forecast gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour.
- 1 outlet · La Libre Access restrictions had already been in force since Friday at noon, ahead of the full closure.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The closures were part of a wider wave of disruption from storms Austen and Boelo moving across north-west Europe within days of each other, forcing authorities in several countries to take precautionary measures against falling trees and branches in public spaces.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- 7sur7: Les magasins bruxellois se barricadent alors que de nouveaux rassemblements sont annoncés
- The Brussels Times: Brussels parks and Sonian Forest closed due to Storm Austen
- La Libre: Tempête Austen : les parcs et la forêt de Soignes resteront fermés jusqu’à lundi matin à Bruxelles
- De Morgen: Live - Politie maakt einde aan betoging in Brussel die niet ontspoorde • Zo’n 110.000 betogers op de been in Parijs, rellen aan het einde van betoging
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Why did Brussels close its parks?
- Brussels Environment closed parks, nature reserves and the Sonian Forest because of strong winds from Storm Austen, to avoid accidents from falling trees or branches.
- When did the parks reopen?
- The closures were due to last until Monday morning, after which the sites were to be inspected and cleared before reopening.
- How strong were the winds?
- The Royal Meteorological Institute forecast gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour for the Brussels region.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.