AP

AP PHOTOS: Desolation, silence a year after Belgium flood

Jul 12, 2022, 2:50 PM | Updated: Jul 13, 2022, 3:30 am

Light posts line a pathway of the Meuse river as it rises during flooding in Liege, Belgium, July 1...

Light posts line a pathway of the Meuse river as it rises during flooding in Liege, Belgium, July 15, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, Wednesday, July 6, 2022 . Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)

(AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)


              Resident Alan Mereschal stands in what is left of his living room after flooding in Chaudfontaine, Belgium, July 24, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 11, 2022. Nearly one year ago catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
            
              Cars and other debris line a river bank after flooding in Drolenvol, Belgium, July 17, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 11, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
            
              Cars damaged by floodwaters are parked in front of the local school in Trooz, Belgium, July 27, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 11, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
            
              A man stands on a bridge and surveys the damage after flooding in Pepinster, Belgium, July 17, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 11, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
            
              Firemen take a rest as they look at a damaged building after flooding in Pepinster, Belgium, July 17, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 11, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
            
              A man rows a boat down a residential street after flooding in Angleur, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 16, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A man walks through piles of damaged and discarded household items after flooding in Liege, Belgium, July 19, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A man walks by damaged cars in a flooded street in Mery, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 14, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A damaged car sits in front of a partially collapsed house after floodwaters in Trooz, Belgium, July 20, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              People walk through a damaged street after flooding in Chenee, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 16, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A car is submerged in the Meuse River during heavy flooding in Liege, Belgium, July 15, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              Flood waters fill a street in Liege, Belgium, July 15, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A man rows a boat down a flooded residential street in Angleur, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 16, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A man looks at damaged cars in a flooded street in Mery, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 14, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              People use rubber rafts in floodwaters after the Meuse River broke its banks during heavy flooding in Liege, Belgium, July 15, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              A shopkeeper watches floodwaters run down a main street in the center of Spa, Belgium, July 14, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              Damaged cars are submerged after flooding in Chenee, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 16, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022. Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              Damaged cars are piled up on a residential street in front of a pharmacy after flooding in Chenee, Province of Liege, Belgium, July 16, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, July 6, 2022.  Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021.  (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)
            
              Light posts line a pathway of the Meuse river as it rises during flooding in Liege, Belgium, July 15, 2021, left, and the same location nearly one year later, Wednesday, July 6, 2022 . Catastrophic flooding in several provinces of Belgium struck after torrential rains fell beginning on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Valentin Bianchi)

CHAUDFONTAINE, Belgium (AP) — The water is gone from the streets, but still bedevils musty walls. Most debris has been swept away, but many homes still stand empty. And when rain rattles, many hearts and souls still cringe with fear.

One year later, it is clear that one mighty rush of water through a string of Belgian valley villages has destroyed much more than 39 lives.

In Ardennes towns like Chaudfontaine and Pepinster, life will take years to rebuild what was swept away in hours on July 14, 2021, as a “water bomb” spread misery through much of eastern Belgium and parts of western Germany.

“All that was left was a marble table with iron legs. I guess it was too heavy” for the flash floods to sweep it out of his home, Chaudfontaine resident Alan Mereschal said. His car was found weeks later, six blocks further.

Nearby, on Thursday, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo will visit villages to mark the anniversary. When they are gone again, people will still have to pick up the pieces of their lives.

The Red Cross estimated that 209 of 262 towns of southern Wallonia were affected and 50,000 homes sustained damage.

In Chaudfontaine, a town known well known for its mineral waters, it’s still eerily quiet, factory houses that once lined the idyllic Vesdre river are mostly empty, in all states of disrepair.

Mereschal’s home was almost a complete loss. He considers himself lucky. He has new furniture, a new television and a new sofa.

“Just happy to have a window basically,” he said.

Some people still face depression and find it hard to listen to the rain, which comes down often in the hilly region. Some people had to wait for a night on rooftops to be rescued. Some were swept away in rubber dinghies, thinking they were close to safety.

“I keep a watch on the weather app now,” Mereschal said. “The hardest part for me is that the pub in the village is closed, so I can’t walk down and get a pint and see friends.”

In nearby Trooz, Paul Martin has lost more. The walls in his home showed water marks reaching up nearly to the ceiling. One year later his house stands empty, a “for sale” sign hanging from the second floor.

The town church served as a food collection point and there are two portable toilets outside the door for residents who still don’t have running water. While some are rebuilding what was left of their homes others have decided to pack it in. “For sale” signs line the streets, mostly close to the river line.

Mereschal, though, is here to stay. “Leave here? Never. I’m like a captain. I will go down with the ship.”

___

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AP PHOTOS: Desolation, silence a year after Belgium flood