Europe is in the grip of one of its most severe wildfire seasons on record, with blazes raging from Belgium to Greece. The fires come amid frequent heatwaves and drought, which scientists say are driven by human-induced climate change. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), some 576,000 hectares (2,225 square miles) have been burnt so far this year — an area twice the size of Luxembourg. Last year's record of over a million hectares could be surpassed in 2026, as the fire season is far from over.
In Belgium, over 500 firefighters and troops are battling a massive blaze in the High Fens park on the border with Germany. The fire, which broke out on Friday, has destroyed some 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres), making it the country's largest in modern history. Germany's Defense Ministry said it would send two military water-bombing helicopters to the region. On Sunday evening, around 30 residents of the German town of Monschau were ordered to evacuate as the fire threatened to cross the border, but the danger has since receded. Smoke from the blaze has drifted into Germany and France.
On the Greek island of Salamina, near Athens, firefighters have almost succeeded in extinguishing two fires that claimed two lives and forced the evacuation by boat of nearly 500 people. The fire department said the fires spread in just seven minutes amid strong winds, trapping an elderly couple who died near their home. The island is popular with day trippers, and the fire broke out near crowded beaches.
In France, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was jeered by residents in the fire-ravaged village of Le Porge in the Gironde region. A total of 183 homes were destroyed in a giant wildfire last month that forced the evacuation of more than 220,000 residents and tourists. Residents have criticized the government's response and accused authorities of prioritizing the protection of wealthier areas, such as the upscale Cap-Ferret peninsula. Meanwhile, a fire in the nearby Landes region is now under control, and 250 evacuated residents will be allowed to return home.
In Spain, a soldier has been killed and hundreds evacuated amid a major wildfire in Aragon. The fire, which broke out last Monday, has threatened a 1,000-year-old monastery. French firefighters have been called in to help contain the blaze, which has destroyed 16,600 hectares. In Portugal, several fires are burning, with hundreds of firefighters working to extinguish them. Five firefighters sustained minor injuries when their vehicle caught fire near the village of Dine on the Spanish border. In Croatia, a fire in the tourist town of Omis that forced 1,000 people to evacuate has been stabilized, but one person was killed and 40 injured, seven critically. Croatian police arrested four people suspected of starting some of the wildfires on the Adriatic coast.
Source: www.dw.com