Belgium declares national heat alert, cancels 100 trains daily

Belgium activated a national orange‑level heat alert as temperatures across the country rose above 35 °C, with peaks expected at 38 °C. The alarm, triggered after a crisis‑management meeting involving the national crisis centre, health ministry and the Royal Meteorological Institute, prompted the state railway operator SNCB to cancel roughly 100 train services each day from Wednesday through Friday.

SNCB warned vulnerable passengers to avoid travel where possible, urged commuters to skip peak‑hour trips, and offered free drinking water at about 100 stations. Authorities said the extreme heat could persist through the weekend, with night temperatures remaining high and ozone levels set to increase. The heat wave is part of a broader European temperature surge affecting several nations.