Context:

Massive wildfires across parts of Europe, led by Belgium’s High Fens and a Greek island near Athens, killed at least two people and forced hundreds to flee as extreme heat and drought worsened conditions. Belgium mobilized hundreds of emergency personnel and activated EU crisis mechanisms for international help as the High Fens fire expanded across peat and heathland. In Greece, an elderly couple died on Salamina while authorities evacuated hundreds more and deployed air support to contain the blaze during the Assumption weekend. Across France, the UK and Germany, multiple fires prompted evacuations and ongoing firefighting efforts, highlighting a broad regional heatwave with persistent risk. While some fronts moderated, officials warned the risk remains high and emphasized cross-border coordination and continued firefighting support.

Dive Deeper:

• In Belgium, the High Fens nature reserve blaze scorched about 30 square kilometres, marking one of the country’s worst wildfires in recent history as dry soils fueled rapid spread.

• Around 600 residents in Waimes and Bütgenbach were evacuated on Saturday, with more than 250 emergency personnel deployed, including Belgian and German firefighters, police, military, and civil protection staff; helicopters from Belgium and the Netherlands aided the effort.

• In Greece, the Salamina fire killed an elderly couple outside their home and led to the extraction of more than 500 people; roughly 192 firefighters, 14 aircraft and helicopters, and multiple coast guard vessels were mobilized, with sea evacuations planned for threatened coastal areas.

• Belgium activated the EU civil protection mechanism to receive international assistance, with Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic contributing water-bombing aircraft and helicopters to the response.

• France reported a 17 square kilometre blaze in Landes with about 650 evacuations, while a larger 420 square kilometre fire in Gironde displaced around 220,000 people as it moved toward the Atlantic coast.

• In the United Kingdom, 14 wildfires were being fought in South Wales with military support as drought conditions kept fire risk high despite easing heat; in central England, extreme temperatures contributed to significant damage in the West Midlands.

• Germany saw progress against a Hürtgen Forest fire, enabling about 2,000 residents near Gey to return home and establishing a cleared cordon to prevent further spread.