Antwerp’s Grand-Place was closed by police on Thursday evening due to a risk of falling fragments from the Town Hall’s facade.
Local authorities confirmed that pieces of one of the historic building’s obelisks threatened to fall off. City Mayor Bart De Wever said it was due to the severe weather conditions linked to Storm Ciarán.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to ensure safety.
The peak of Storm Ciarán, which has been lashing across multiple European countries, including Belgium, since Wednesday night, has passed.
Nevertheless, the Royal Meteorological Institute maintained an orange-level storm warning throughout Thursday afternoon for the provinces of Hainaut, Eastern Flanders and Western Flanders.
