Belgium Heatwave: Code Red Declared, Hospitals Cancel Surgeries as Temperatures Soar to 40°C
Belgium is in the grip of a severe and historic heatwave, with the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) issuing a Code Red warning for the provinces of Limburg and Liège on Friday, where temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C. The extreme heat has triggered widespread disruptions across the country, including the cancellation of non-urgent surgeries at two major hospitals, the opening of climate refuges in Brussels, and emergency rescue operations for livestock.
Code Red and National Heat Plan Activated
The KMI has issued Code Red — the highest heat warning level — for Limburg and Liège for Friday 26 June, marking only the fourth time such a warning has been issued in Belgian history. The national ozone and heat plan was activated at the alarm phase on Tuesday, only the second time this has occurred, according to VRT NWS.
“The heat period on Friday and this weekend is exceptional,” said Gerlant Van Berlaer, Chief Medical Officer of the Federal Public Service for Health. “That’s why we call on the public to be aware of the risks.”
On Wednesday, the daily temperature record for 24 June — set in 1976 at 32.8°C — was broken, reaching 35.1°C in Ukkel (Uccle). The heatwave is part of a broader European event affecting at least 17 countries, with France activating its highest-level heat plan across 72 departments.
Hospitals Cancel Surgeries Due to Overheated Servers
AZ Sint-Lucas in Ghent and UZA in Edegem have been forced to cancel all non-urgent planned surgeries after their electronic patient record systems went down. The central servers, located in Paris, overheated due to the extreme temperatures, as reported by VRT NWS.
“The electronic patient record has been down since yesterday evening. We absolutely need it to access medical information,” said Josse Abrahams, spokesperson for AZ Sint-Lucas Ghent. “Urgent operations can still go ahead. I’m thinking of an emergency C-section, for example.”
At UZA Edegem, cooling has since been restored and systems are being restarted, though delays continue for consultations and planned admissions. Emergency surgeries, medical imaging, dialysis, and PET-CT scans remain operational.
Brussels Becomes a ‘Pressure Cooker’ as Climate Refuges Open
Brussels is turning into a “pressure cooker” (cocotte-minute) as the heatwave intensifies, according to La Libre Belgique. Municipalities across the capital region are opening “climate refuges” — cool spaces including woods, ponds, shaded parks, and gardens identified by Brussels Environment — to help residents escape the oppressive heat.
The Atomium announced it would close early in the afternoon on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday due to the extreme temperatures.
Firefighters Rescue 400 Pigs from Overheating
In a dramatic incident in Woumen (Diksmuide), a transformer belonging to grid operator Fluvius overheated on Wednesday evening, causing a power outage that affected approximately 20 households. The outage cut ventilation in a pig barn, putting 400 pigs at risk of overheating and suffocation, as VRT NWS reported.
The fire brigade deployed a high-volume ventilator and water misting to cool the barn until power was restored at 21:42. “We were able to cool the stable with air and water misting,” said Kristof Louagie of Brandweer Westhoek.
Fire Restrictions Imposed in Luxembourg Province
With the heightened risk of wildfires, the Governor of Luxembourg province, Olivier Schmitz, has issued a police decree imposing strict fire restrictions. Open fires in and near forests, use of thermal weeders, burning of green waste, fireworks, and discarding cigarette butts in natural areas are all prohibited, according to RTBF. Barbecues on private property remain allowed under adult supervision.
Climate Change Amplifies the Heatwave
The EU-funded Climameter project estimates that climate change has made this heatwave up to 4°C hotter than it would have been under natural conditions. “What is unusual is that climate change has increased temperatures in parts of Western Europe by up to 4 degrees Celsius,” said Davide Faranda of Climameter. “We are approaching the limits of what societies and ecosystems can handle.”
What to Expect
Temperatures are forecast to peak on Friday at up to 40°C in Limburg and Liège. Cooler weather is expected to arrive by Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 24-30°C and a chance of rain and thunderstorms. The WHO has warned that extreme heat causes approximately 500,000 deaths globally per year, with over 200,000 in Europe in the past four years alone.
Authorities urge the public to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable neighbors and relatives.