Brussels attack: Belgians use #ikwilhelpen hashtag to offer transport and accommodation to stranded

In the aftermath of deadly terror attacks in Brussels on 22 March, Belgians have taken to social media to offer each other help. Using the hashtag #IkWilHelpen (I want to help), people are offering free rides and accommodation to those who are stranded in the city.

Twin blasts rocked Zaventem International Airport at 8am (7am GMT), followed by a third explosion at Maalbeek Metro Station. At least 28 people were confirmed dead and 90 injured, with travel to and from Brussels being cancelled.

Similar to the #PorteOuverte hashtag that was used in France after the Paris attacks in November, where people offered their homes to those on the streets, #IkWilHelpen began trending nationwide in Belgium as people offered their homes to those affected.

With travel to, from and within the city suspended, hundreds of people began using the topic to offer transport as well. People posted that they were driving to specific locations and specific times and were able to accommodate a certain number of people.

Meanwhile, a Sikh Gurudwara (temple) in Brussels has also reached out to those in need of shelter after the attacks. Baljit Rihal, a sports business consultant, tweeted that the Guru Nanak Sahib in Lange Molenstraat was "open to all" and also offers food.

Brussell's metro service has been suspended following the attacks and air traffic to and from Zaventem Airport is also down. The Eurostar has halted all travel to Brussels, with a number of people taking to Twitter in an attempt to find out how they could get to their destination.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports in the UK confirmed that flights to and from Brussels had been cancelled. Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister confirmed that a Jet Airways flight had been affected by the blasts, with two crew members injured and a passengers left stranded in Brussels.