Firefighters have been engaged in combatting a large wildfire that ravaged a nature reserve in eastern Belgium and another on a Greek island close to Athens. The fires, fueled by hot and dry weather conditions, have caused significant damages and casualties across parts of Europe.
In eastern Belgium, a fire consumed approximately 30 square kilometers in the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes), marking one of the most severe wildfires in the country’s recent history. As a precaution, around 600 residents in the neighboring municipalities of Waimes and Bütgenbach were instructed to evacuate, and tourists were advised to leave the area. Emergency personnel, including over 100 Belgian and German firefighters, as well as police, military officers, and civil protection staff, were deployed to the scene.
Tragically, in Greece, an elderly couple lost their lives near their home on the island of Salamina, close to where a fire erupted. Over 500 individuals were rescued from the island, which was bustling with visitors during Greece’s summer holiday weekend. The fire caused damage to houses, and several people required medical assistance at a local clinic.
Efforts to contain the wildfires involved the deployment of approximately 192 firefighters, 14 aircraft and helicopters, volunteer teams, and municipal water tankers. In Belgium, the blaze has surpassed a previous record set in 2011, burning nearly 14 square kilometers in the same area. The dry soil conditions have exacerbated the situation, making containment efforts challenging.
The European countries affected by the wildfires have received assistance from neighboring nations through the activation of the EU’s civil protection mechanism. Resources such as water-bombing aircraft and helicopters have been mobilized to aid in firefighting operations. The fires were a result of prolonged hot and dry weather, posing a significant risk to affected regions.
In France, a wildfire in the Landes region burned approximately 17 square kilometers, leading to the evacuation of around 650 individuals. The UK witnessed a series of wildfires in South Wales, with emergency crews supported by military personnel to combat the blazes. Germany also faced wildfires, with significant progress made in containing a fire in the Hürtgen Forest, allowing evacuated residents to return home.