Forest fire spreads in Dutch nature reserve for second day
The fire started in a nature reserve near the village of Oostrum in Limburg province, close to the German border.
A forest fire in a Dutch nature reserve continued to burn for a second day on Tuesday, with over 100 hectares engulfed by the flames. The blaze began on Monday afternoon near the village of Oostrum, in the province of Limburg, close to the German border. By midday on Tuesday, the authorities reported that the fire remained uncontrolled, despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters from across the country.
On the scene, AFP journalists witnessed towering clouds of smoke billowing from the forest, as at least two firefighting helicopters made repeated trips to deliver water to the inferno. Dozens of firetrucks and first aid workers gathered at a hotel in the neighboring town of Venray, while numerous local roads were blocked and a nearby campsite was evacuated due to the danger.
The situation is expected to become even more precarious in the coming hours, as the fire fighters must constantly adjust to the strong winds. A regional safety spokesman informed the ANP news agency of this challenge. The past month has seen an unprecedented heat wave across Europe, coupled with a severe drought that has dried up rivers and led to water restrictions and devastating forest fires.
Scientists from World Weather Attribution cautioned that human-fueled climate change is exacerbating moisture loss in soil, lakes and rivers, thereby increasing the risk of extreme droughts.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
