Belgian city’s historic canals turn green after record-hot summer

Loading the video No Comment Video. Belgian city’s historic canals turn green after record-hot summer Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 05/10/2026 - 10:58 GMT+2 A thick carpet of green duckweed has covered Ghent’s canals, disrupting tour boats and raising fresh concerns about climate change in Belgium. In Belgium, a thick layer of green duckweed now covers canals in Ghent's historic centre, turning the water into a bright green carpet. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Tour boats continue to operate, but the growth has caused problems: one vessel's motor overheated after duckweed clogged its intake. Geert Weymeis, spokesperson for the Flemish waterways management body, says the spread is unprecedented, linking it to drought, high temperatures and slow-moving water, which created ideal conditions for the plant. Students watching from the banks describe the scene as striking, but say it also raises concerns about climate change. Weather climate change Belgium Top stories Now playing Next Belgian city’s historic canals turn green after record-hot summer Now playing Next Dogs, turtle and snail receive blessings in churches Now playing Next Floods leave streets and roads submerged across Catalonia Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 5th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next Spanish police remove over 3,000 migrants from Ceuta beach camp Now playing Next US pulls all B-1 bombers from UK airbase at centre of terror probe Now playing Next Bolsonaro, Lula to face off in presidential runoff vote on 25 October Now playing Next Greece will not 'borrow' its own treasures, Mitsotakis says Now playing Next Showers and storms across Spain this weekend, floods kill 102-year-old woman Now playing Next FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe in 'terrorist' act Now playing Next Bosnia awaits for final general election results Now playing Next Merz makes surprise Kyiv visit as Germany pledges more aid to Ukraine Now playing Next Iran war: 'Europe not being at the table is a failure', Charles Michel says Now playing Next Europe Today: Russia hits Kyiv as Merz visits; Bolsonaro wins Brazil's first round election Now playing Next Intelligence Everywhere: Inside Europe’s Next Technology Era Now playing Next Judo 2026 World Championships: Koga and Yusifov Strike Gold on Opening Day in Baku ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Tens of thousands take to Madrid streets demanding housing action No Comment French students clash with police as school protests spread nationwide No Comment 5,000 drones turn China’s night sky into a giant light show No Comment Mobile ebola laboratory cuts diagnosis times for patients in Congo World News “We don't feel a sense of worry” in Europe, says the head of the Muslim World League Europe News Student protests in France: 400–500 schools fully or partially closed Monday Europe News Merz makes surprise visit to Kyiv: Germany pledges further aid to Ukraine Latvia Latvia's pro-European ruling party wins election as populists gain ground Design 'I want to spark new ideas': Architect Ma Yansong on designing the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia awaits for final general election results as preliminary count remains unclear Culture Series Shooting and scoring: Photographer Alex Pantling on capturing the world’s greatest footballers Europe News Tens of thousands of people take to streets of Paris to march for Pride ADVERTISEMENT Europe News Showers and storms across Spain this weekend, floods kill 102-year-old woman Culture news Greece will not 'borrow' its own treasures, Mitsotakis says of Parthenon Marbles Focus Azerbaijan International Investment Forum: Where capital meets opportunity Israel UAE says FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe in 'terrorist' act Latvia Latvia: Exit polls show ruling party leading as populist party gains momentum Europe News Second Kyiv bridge hit in two days as Russia targets Dnipro crossings Europe News Hungarian restaurants struggle: costs match Europe but revenues lag behind Nature ‘It’s given my mental health a massive boost’: Why everyone should hone their bushcraft skills ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT