Key facts
- Two people died in fires on the Greek island of Salamis.
- Belgium is battling its largest wildfire in over a century.
- The Belgian wildfire has ravaged 3,000 hectares of land.
- Hundreds of people have been ordered to evacuate Salamis.
- The Belgian wildfire is encroaching on the border with Germany.
- Firefighters from Germany are assisting in Belgium.
Two people have died in fires on the Greek island of Salamis, while Belgium is battling its largest wildfire in over a century. Hundreds of people have been ordered to evacuate Salamis as the Belgian blaze, which began on Friday in the High Fens nature reserve, has ravaged 3,000 hectares and is encroaching on the German border.
In Belgium, approximately 600 residents in the municipalities of Waimes and Bütgenbach were told to evacuate. Over 250 firefighters and emergency staff, including personnel from Germany, are involved in the operation. Two water-bombing aircraft from Sweden and four helicopters are providing crucial air support due to the terrain. Farmers are also assisting by using tractors to pull water from Lake Robertville.
Authorities described the conditions as challenging, though two fire fronts in Belgium are now under control. The fire, described as the largest in Belgium's modern history, began in an area that experienced significant wildfires in 1911. Europe is experiencing intense heat, contributing to widespread wildfire outbreaks. Separately, a fire in Croatia killed one person and injured 40, forcing 1,200 to evacuate, while hundreds more were evacuated in western Germany and southwest France.