- Fire started on Friday in the High Fens nature reserve when temperatures reached 37C.
- By Sunday morning, the fire had destroyed 3,000 hectares and was very close to the German border.
- Authorities ordered around 600 residents in Waimes, Sourbrodt, and Buetgenbach to evacuate due to the fire.
- The EU deployed three helicopters and two water bombers from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic to assist in firefighting efforts.
- Firefighters from Germany and Luxembourg joined the response, with local farmers assisting by wetting down the area.
- Two women, aged 60 and 80, died in a mudslide in northwest Spain after torrential rain triggered the landslide.
- The fire has surpassed a 2011 fire in the same area that was previously the country's biggest.
- Authorities in Germany warned of smoke danger as the fire approached within 3 kilometers of the border.
- Belgium activated the EU's civil protection mechanism, bringing in additional resources to combat the fire.
- Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed being "shocked" at the fire's speed and extent of destruction.
Belgium is facing its largest wildfire on record, with flames consuming approximately 3,000 hectares in the High Fens nature reserve. The fire, which began on Friday amid a heatwave, has prompted the evacuation of around 600 residents in nearby areas due to shifting winds and smoke concerns.137
Authorities reported that the blaze is now just under a mile from Germany, leading to warnings of smoke danger across the border. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed shock at the fire's rapid spread and extensive damage, stating, "The situation is extremely difficult," as firefighters struggle with challenging terrain.10
In response, the EU activated its civil protection mechanism, sending three helicopters and two water-bombing planes from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic to assist firefighting efforts. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib noted that this wildfire season has started unusually early and reached unprecedented northern latitudes, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on the continent.
Meanwhile, in Spain, torrential rain triggered a mudslide that claimed the lives of two women, aged 60 and 80, in the village of Manzanedo de Valdueza. Seven regions in Spain are under a yellow alert for storms and heavy rain, indicating the widespread nature of the severe weather affecting Europe.6
“The fire has destroyed 3,000 hectares and is within 2 miles of Germany, prompting evacuations in Waimes and Monschau. EU civil protection mechanism deployed three helicopters and two water bombers from Sweden, Netherlands, and Czech Republic.”
DW.com
