Tornado hits Sint-Katelijne-Waver in Belgium, causing severe damage to local growers
Image credit: RTV (stillshot)
A tornado between Sint-Katelijne-Waver and Putte in Belgium caused severe damage Wednesday afternoon, January 3, 2024, with one horticultural company, Paulanco, losing 40 years of work as greenhouses were demolished and glass shattered.
The tornado struck at approximately 16:33 local time, leaving behind a trail of destruction over a 4 km (2.5 miles) stretch. The municipality of Sint-Katelijne-Waver reported torn roofs and debris scattered across the area, affecting about forty homes, two of which are now uninhabitable.
Among the hardest hit were local growers, with Paulanco experiencing substantial damage that swept away 40 years of cultivation in mere minutes. Agnes, the wife of grower Paul Houtmeyers, confirmed the complete destruction of one greenhouse, significant structural collapse, and widespread glass breakage.
While Paulanco stands as the most affected horticultural company, the tornado’s impact varied, with some nearby greenhouses escaping unscathed, highlighting the localized nature of the destruction.
Insurance assessors and support teams swarmed the area the following day, but the danger of falling glass and unstable structures made immediate repair and cleanup efforts impossible. Even as assessments were being made, the precariousness of the situation was evident, with ongoing glass fallout from the broken premises. The growers’ spare glass, a resource for such emergencies, was also destroyed.
Paulanco’s 9 600 m2 (103 333 feet2) greenhouse saw 7 000 m2 (75 347 feet2) collapse, while another 4 000 m2 (43 056 feet2) were destroyed in their newer, 12 600 m2 (135 625 feet2) facility.
References:
1 Tornado destroys Belgium tomato greenhouse – Horti Daily – January 4, 2024
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
