Tragedy at Strépy

20 March 2022

Early in the morning a carnival group in the town Strépy-Bracquegnies was hit by a car that drove into the Gilles group at full speed during their ramassage (the tradition where the carnival group goes from door to door to pick up their members). At least six people were killed, more than 30 others are injured.

King Philippe was accompanied by Crown Princess Elisabeth (20) when they visited the crisis center of Strépy in the afternoon, and by PM Alexander De Croo and Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden as well as the local authorities.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/03/20/voertuig-rijdt-in-op-carnavalisten-in-strepy-bracquegnies-minst/

In the local sports hall they observed a minute's silence before talking to the rescue teams and medical staff, and assisting at the meeting. 

Afterwards Philippe and Elisabeth, privately, met with the families of the victims. 

Elisabeth chose to be in Belgium while preparing for her exams. She's studying History & Politics at Oxford.