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E17 towards Kortrijk closed at Aalbeke after straw-loaded lorry catches fire

A lorry carrying straw caught fire on the E17 near Aalbeke, prompting a full closure in the direction of Kortrijk while firefighters worked at the scene, according to Flemish media reports.

Belgium Impulse Editorial·15 July 2026·1 min read·
Well established· 1 primary source + 2 official documents + 1 independent reporting source

In 30 seconds

  • De Morgen and HLN reported that a lorry loaded with straw caught fire on the E17 near Aalbeke.
  • The motorway was reported fully closed in the direction of Kortrijk while firefighters worked.
  • No official cause or confirmed injury information was available in the cited reports at the time of writing.
  • The Flemish Traffic Centre public feed checked later did not list the Aalbeke fire among active incidents.

The subject is a motorway incident on the E17 near Aalbeke, a district of Kortrijk in West Flanders, involving a lorry carrying straw that caught fire and led to a full closure towards Kortrijk while firefighters intervened.

Background

The E17/A14 corridor links Antwerp, Ghent, Kortrijk and the French border. Incidents near Kortrijk carry wider traffic consequences because the area connects local city traffic with freight and cross-border motorway movements.

Context & what happens next

What to do

Drivers should check the Flemish Traffic Centre before using the E17 around Kortrijk and follow signed diversions or police instructions if restrictions remain.

Impact

Regional — The impact is regional: drivers around Kortrijk, Aalbeke, Mouscron and the E17/E403 interchange faced disruption while the incident was handled.

Evidence
Well established · 1 primary source + 2 official documents + 1 independent reporting source
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Vlaams Verkeerscentrum
Published:
10 Jul 2026, 02:00
Retrieved by ODIN:
11 Jul 2026
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Stad Kortrijk
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Retrieved by ODIN:
11 Jul 2026
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