Belgium swept by severe storm that left one person dead

The severe storm that swept across Belgium occurred overnight on Saturday, as an intense, historic heat wave across Western Europe broke into violent electrical storm.

The storm brought an abrupt end to a multi-day stretch of extreme weather where temperatures in Belgium approached a scorching 40°C. The storm system unleashed torrential rain, frequent lightning, and ferocious wind gusts that caused widespread structural damage.

Fire departments were flooded with hundreds of emergency calls regarding blocked roads, flooded basements, and debris. One person was killed just outside of Brussels when a large tree, uprooted by the heavy winds, collapsed directly onto their vehicle overnight. The storm downed power lines, ripped roofs off buildings, and caused flash flooding across several municipalities.