BRUSSELS: The heavy flooding in Belgium is the worst the country has ever seen, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday as he declared July 20 a day of national mourning.
"These are very exceptional circumstances, without any precedent in our country," he said.
Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said the death toll from the floods had risen to 20 people, with around 20 people missing. Earlier media reports had said 23 dead.
More than 120 people have died so far in floods that have devastated large areas of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
In Belgium, waters have begun to recede and torrential rains have ceased, but thousands of emergency responders are still at work.
De Croo said flags on Tuesday will be flown at half-mast and a minute of silence would be held at midday.
US president says most worrisome threat to Europe was not Russia, China
State media says "significant damage" caused to nearby houses as three people have been injured
Trump says US is going to be energy dominant like nobody else
Tax-collecting Internal Revenue Service is preparing to fire thousands of workers next week, say sources
"The initial tests indicate a respiratory tract infection," says the Vatican in a statement
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson accuses Kyiv of using nuclear plants for "blackmail"