In eastern Belgium and on a Greek island near Athens, firefighters fought against a massive wildfire amid hot and dry conditions across parts of Europe. The blaze in eastern Belgium consumed approximately 30 square kilometers in the High Fens nature reserve, marking one of the country’s most severe wildfires in recent memory.
Around 600 residents in the nearby towns of Waimes and Bütgenbach, in the Liège province near the German border, were instructed to evacuate as winds changed direction, spreading smoke throughout the area. Authorities recommended tourists to leave, and a nearby gymnasium was opened to accommodate evacuees.
Hervé Jamar, the provincial governor of Liège, disclosed that more than 250 emergency personnel, including over 100 Belgian and German firefighters, as well as police, military officers, and civil protection staff, were deployed. Firefighting helicopters from Belgium’s federal police and the Netherlands were also involved in the operation.
On a Greek island, two individuals tragically lost their lives near Athens, where a fire broke out. The coast guard reported that more than 500 people were evacuated from the island of Salamina. The fire erupted during Greece’s peak summer holiday weekend, prompting concern as it threatened residential areas.
In response to the blazes, firefighting aircraft, helicopters, and volunteer crews were mobilized to contain the wildfires. The European Union’s civil protection mechanism was activated as Belgium sought assistance from other countries to combat the unprecedented fire.
Meanwhile, in France, firefighters managed to control a wildfire in the Landes region, with no significant flare-ups reported overnight. Authorities estimated the affected area at 17 square kilometers, leading to the evacuation of approximately 650 individuals. In the United Kingdom, emergency crews tackled 14 wildfires in South Wales, emphasizing the persistent risk due to drought conditions.
The relentless wildfires across Europe have tested firefighting capabilities and highlighted the urgent need for coordinated efforts to mitigate the impact of such disasters.
