Explosion at Maredsous Christmas market in Belgium injures several people
An explosion at the Maredsous Christmas market in Denée, a village in the municipality of Anhée in southern Belgium, has injured several people, according to The Mirror and the Daily Express. The market has been evacuated and closed.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after a fireball explosion. Two chalets caught fire, and firefighters from Dinaphi tackled the blaze. Colonel Marc Gilbert of the Val de Sambre emergency response zone stated: “Two chalets caught fire, but the Val de Sambre firefighters brought the blaze under control. The PIM (Medical Intervention Plan) has not been activated. The emergency medical team doctor is on site. There are three people with significant burns, and a helicopter will be arriving to transport them to specialised burn units.”
An air ambulance flew three people to hospital with severe burns. Two other people also suffered less severe injuries. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, but firefighters from Dinaphi have said it appears to have been an accident, likely caused by a gas cylinder explosion.
The Mirror reported the incident at 13:15 on 15 Nov 2026, with an update at 13:23. The Daily Express reported at 12:29 on Sun, Nov 15, 2026, with an update at 12:36. Both outlets described the event as breaking news.
