A massive wildfire in Belgium continued to burn uncontrollably despite more favorable weather conditions aiding firefighting efforts. In Greece, a fire near the main airport in Athens briefly flared up before being extinguished.
The Belgian fire, located in the eastern High Fens region close to the German border, was expected to persist for months underground due to the peaty soil, with intermittent flare-ups likely, as stated by a fire ranger.
Europe is currently experiencing one of its hottest and driest summers on record, with climate change exacerbating the situation, according to recent studies.
King Philippe of Belgium interrupted his summer vacation to visit the emergency services tackling the wildfire, which has already scorched an estimated 30 square kilometers of land in Liège province, leaving charred trees and smoldering ground.
The wildfire, although not significantly expanding, remained uncontrolled in inaccessible areas, requiring assistance from 500 firefighters, as well as aircraft from neighboring countries and local police drones.
Farmers also joined in the firefighting efforts by supplying water, while precautionary evacuation orders were issued for hundreds of residents.
Fire crews have been at work trying to beat back blazes across Europe this week, including in parts of Croatia, Greece and Italy. A fire in the coastal Croatian town of Omiš forced people out of their homes, as EU officials noted extreme wildfire conditions will linger across the continent.
According to regional authorities, overnight rain helped contain the blaze temporarily, but the fire remained active underground due to peat soil, as explained by a forest ranger.
In Greece, a fire near the main airport in Athens was swiftly extinguished after breaking out, while in France, firefighters successfully controlled a blaze in the Landes region, allowing evacuated residents to return home.
Greece quickly extinguishes fire near main airport
On the island of Salamina in Greece, fire department investigators inspected the aftermath of a wildfire that claimed two lives, injured nine people, and destroyed several homes. A new fire also erupted in Spata, east of Athens, but was quickly contained.
An 80-year-old man was arrested in Kavala, Greece, on arson charges for allegedly starting a fire deliberately. Authorities have made several arrests related to wildfires, with 31 for deliberate arson and 271 for negligence since the beginning of the year.</p