Belgium is battling its largest wildfire on record, with a massive blaze scorching the High Fens nature reserve in the east. The fire, described as the country's worst in modern history, has burned between 2,700 and 3,000 hectares of land. The rapidly growing fire spread towards the German border, forcing approximately 600 residents to evacuate and leading the German town of Monschau to warn its residents of possible evacuation orders.
The blaze erupted during an intense heatwave that saw temperatures reach nearly 37 C in several areas. Local reports indicate that houses have been damaged and five people were taken to a health clinic. To contain the fire, authorities activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, bringing in water-bombing aircraft and helicopters from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. Firefighters from Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg are working together to combat the flames amidst shifting winds and extreme heat.
Simultaneously, wildfires have struck the Greek island of Salamina west of Athens during the peak summer holiday weekend of the August 15 Assumption. Two people died and several others were injured as fast-moving fires swept through the island, with bodies recovered from the Peristeria beach area. Approximately 260 firefighters have been deployed to the island, working to prevent two separate fires from scaling a mountain and linking up.