Explosion and fire at Christmas market in Belgium injure five, three seriously burned

An explosion and fire at a Christmas market in southern Belgium on Sunday around midday left three people with serious burns. The blast struck the Maredsous Christmas market in Denée, a village in the municipality of Anhée in the province of Namur, sending up a fireball and setting two wooden chalets ablaze. Firefighters from Dinant brought the blaze under control. Colonel Marc Gilbert of the Val de Sambre emergency response zone said three people with significant burns would be flown by helicopter to specialist burn units; the Medical Intervention Plan was not activated, and an emergency medical team doctor was on site.

Two more hurt; gas cylinder suspected

Two other people suffered less severe injuries and were taken to hospital. People at the market were evacuated and the market closed. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, but firefighters said it appears to have been an accident, likely caused by a gas cylinder explosion. Belgian public broadcaster VRT first published images from the scene, followed by reports in The Mirror and the Daily Express.

(File photo: the Maredsous Christmas market. Image: Visit Ardenne)