Belgian prosecutor opens criminal investigation into fatal floods

A damaged car and other debris strewn across a football pitch after flooding in Vaux-sous-Chevremont in Belgium (Virginia Mayo/AP)

Prosecutors in Belgium have opened an investigation into floods that hit several towns earlier this month, leaving 37 people dead.

The prosecutor’s office in the city of Liege said in a statement that an investigative judge had been appointed to lead the inquiry, which would examine whether there was a basis to charge anyone with involuntary manslaughter by failure of care or precaution.