A large-scale rescue exercise, organised by provincial governor Gilles Mahieu’s services, is underway between Mont-Saint-Guibert and Ottignies in Walloon Brabant.
The exercise, which began at 00:50, simulates a train accident in the Biéreau tunnel involving around twenty actors, mobilising all emergency services alongside representatives from Infrabel and SNCB.
According to the scenario, a group of people have been hit by a train in the tunnel, requiring emergency services to take all necessary precautions to assist them, locate the accident, establish access points, and set up an operational command post and an advanced medical post.
The exercise primarily focuses on field operations, with significant forces from the Walloon Brabant rescue zone and local and federal police involved, along with military command members and Civil Protection. This deployment necessitates the closure of part of National Road 25 towards Nivelles for the night, with diversions in place. A crisis centre is assembled at the governor’s hotel in Wavre, bringing together representatives from all emergency disciplines and mayors of the affected municipalities.
Footage captured by ground teams and drones is broadcast live on screens in a room at the governor’s hotel, allowing various observers, including police and Infrabel, to monitor operations in real-time without being on-site. Members of the civil security reserve formed by the governor are also present, receiving explanations about crisis management and rescue organisation.
