A 63-year-old woman died in Oudenaarde, Belgium, following an incident when a 66-foot Christmas tree toppled over during a severe storm on Thursday, December 21.
The fatal event unfolded in the town square, near a busy Christmas market. The tree, a central attraction of the market, started to lean and eventually collapsed under the force of Storm Pia’s intense winds, which were affecting western Europe.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the tree fell next to a carousel, which remained in operation.
First responders reached the site and discovered the woman, a resident of Oudenaarde, with life-ending injuries. Two additional women from Oudenaarde sustained minor injuries.
This event prompted questions about the safety protocols and the adequacy of the tree’s securing methods, especially considering the storm’s intensity.
Storm Pia had already impacted the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, hitting western Belgium particularly hard. A yellow code alert was issued for the coastal regions due to high winds and heavy rainfall in northern Europe.
The Oudenaarde Christmas market was closed immediately after the incident.
Authorities are currently investigating both the circumstances of the tree’s installation and the incident itself.
