Explosion rocks Christmas market in Belgium as people burned and emergency crews swarm

Detailed summary

Emergency services rushed to the Maredsous Christmas market in Denée, a village in southern Belgium, following an explosion with multiple people injured

Several people have been injured, two critically, following a fireball explosion at a Christmas market in Belgium.

Emergency services rushed to the Maredsous Christmas market in Denée, a village in the municipality of Anhée, which has been evacuated.

An air ambulance has flown three people to hospital with severe burns. Two other people suffered less serious injuries.

The cause of the fire at the market, has not been confirmed, but firefighters from Dinaphi have said it appears to have been an accident, likely caused by a gas cylinder explosion.

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Colonel Marc Gilbert of the Val de Sambre emergency response zone stated: "Two chalets caught fire, but the Val de Sambre firefighters brought the blaze under control. The PIM (Medical Intervention Plan) has not been activated.

"The emergency medical team doctor is on site. There are three people with significant burns, and a helicopter will be arriving to transport them to specialised burn units."

The Namur public prosecutor's office has been notified with an investigation underway into how the fire happened.

The mayor of Anhée, Pierre Rondiat, said of those who have suffered burns: "Five injured people have been identified. Two are in critical condition, one was airlifted to a hospital in Liège and the second, it is yet to be confirmed, to the military hospital in Neder-Over-Heembeek. A third person also suffered burns, while the other two sustained minor injuries.

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