A tragic incident occurred in Oudenaarde, Belgium, when a 66-foot Christmas tree fell during a severe storm on Thursday, December 21, resulting in the death of a 63-year-old woman. 

The accident happened in the town square, adjacent to a bustling Christmas market. The tree, a prominent feature of the Christmas market, began to tilt and eventually fell as Storm Pia brought intense winds to western Europe. 

Security camera footage showed the tree collapsing near a carousel, which continued to operate. 

Emergency services arrived at the scene where the woman, a local resident, was found with fatal injuries. Two other women from Oudenaarde suffered minor injuries. 

The incident raised concerns about safety measures and whether the tree was adequately secured in light of the storm. 

Storm Pia had already disrupted traffic in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and struck western Belgium with significant force. A yellow code warning was issued for coastal areas due to the storm, which brought high winds and heavy rain to northern Europe. 

Following the event, the Christmas market in Oudenaarde was immediately shut down. 

Investigations into the safety of the tree installation and the overall incident are ongoing.