Turnhout Residential Care Centre De Wending has been without power since the afternoon of October 13, 2025, following maintenance work by Fluvius. The outage, which exceeded one hour, has prompted staff, fire department, and emergency services to assist residents, reports 24brussels.
According to GVA News, the power outage occurred after planned maintenance on the switchboards at De Wending, as well as at De Vliet and De Dijk facilities. Initially, staff and residents were informed that the disruption would last approximately one hour, but the power has remained off for an extended period.
What caused the power outage at Turnhout Care Centre De Wending?
Katrien Adrians, spokesperson for De Wending, confirmed that while precautions were implemented, the extended outage poses significant challenges for the facility. Key systems, including medical equipment, heating, and lighting, are currently inoperable. Staff are actively ensuring the safety and comfort of residents in these difficult circumstances.
As of 6 p.m., Turnhout Residential Care Centre De Wending remained without power.
“We do have backup batteries, but they do not last for several hours,”
Adrians stated. The prolonged outage has led management to request assistance from the fire department and emergency services, both of which are currently on site.
While there is no immediate danger, the consequences of the outage are severe. Elevators are nonfunctional, and even the sliding glass front door is inoperable. Fluvius has deployed additional personnel to expedite power restoration, and the city of Turnhout’s crisis unit is on alert to provide further assistance if necessary. Staff and management remain focused on aiding residents and preparing for potential emergency scenarios.
Belgium has experienced similar incidents in the past. In March 2022, a nursing home in Ghent endured a power outage during routine maintenance, lasting several hours and leading to complications with elevators, medical equipment, and heating. During that incident, staff relied on backup generators and involved emergency services to ensure resident safety.
