The Maas will reach record heights on Friday and in combination with the strong current this causes major problems. People and animals are again being evacuated and there is a dike breach in Meerssen. The rivers have already flooded several plots of land.
The water is flooding more and more areas and continues to the north. Plots with potatoes, grains and other crops are flooded. The highest point is still far from being reached in most rivers. In addition, the flow rate of the water causes considerable damage and puts pressure on the dikes. A dike breach in Meerssen in Limburg was the result of this on Friday afternoon (July 16).
More and more plots under water
While the water in the south of Limburg slowly decreases, it rises further in the north. "The water in the Meuse rises several centimeters every hour and the highest point is yet to come. For us, that is probably Sunday morning," says Crop tour grower Geert Jillissen from Oeffelt (North Brabant). His potatoes are now almost submerged. "The forecast is that the water will rise another 2 meters and then reach its highest point. There will be nothing left of the plot at all." Growers in the area are doing everything they can to get their last crops off the land. For example, grain is chopped for straw.
The images below clearly show how high the water is already at Jillissen's plot.
Also Daan Janssen from Escharen (North Brabant), potato grower of the Boerenbusiness Crop tour, has its first headland with potatoes under water because the Meuse has overflowed its banks. It doesn't stop there, as the highest point in the Maas will not be reached until Sunday. In total, Janssen has more than 70 hectares of crops in the floodplains. "It is expected that the plots will be 1,8 meters under water."
The situation below shows the picture in Escharen.
Dike breach Meerssen
In Meerssen (Limburg) a hole appeared in the dike between 13:30 and 14:00. The hole quickly expanded and a lot of water flows through it, says the South Limburg safety region. It concerns a dike on the Juliana Canal. A large area is now under water. Residents must move to a safe floor in the house as soon as possible, there was no time for evacuation.
With tractors and flat carts, the farmers try to help where they can. Several people and animals are being helped to evacuate. Also further on in the Meuse, where the water is now rising considerably, animals are already being evacuated from the floodplains.
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