Heavy rainfall causes flooding in Zuid-Holland

The fire department in Zuid-Holland had their hands full with reports of flooded houses and cellars, caused by heavy rains during the early hours of Wednesday morning, ANP reports.

Alblasserwaard, with villages such as Alblasserdam and Molenaarsgraaf, in particular had many problems, local safety office Veiligheidsregio Zuid-Holland-Zuid said to ANP. The control room in nearby Hoeksche Waard also received many calls.

In Rotterdam the fire brigade had to pup water out of a cafe on Oostdijk in the city center. In Schipluiden a house was struck by lighting, setting its roof on fire. The fire brigade was quickly at the scene and prevented the fire from spreading any further.

The storms, which were accompanied by gusts of wind around 60 kilometers per hour and hail, have since moved westwards into the North Sea.