Germany news: Wildfire forces evacuations in Eifel forest
Hundreds of people had to leave a village near the Hürtgenwald as a wildfire approached. Firefighters say they're unlikely to be able to return today amid high temperatures, humidity and wind. DW has the latest.
On Friday, August 14, a major wildfire broke out in Germany's Eifel region, prompting authorities to evacuate around 2,000 residents from the village of Gey near the Belgian border. North Rhine-Westphalia's regional leader, Hendrik Wüst, expressed optimism about a possible return to the evacuated village, but warned that the situation remained delicate due to the threat of explosions from World War II ordnance still present in the forest.
Firefighters managed to control the blaze on Saturday, August 15, but the evacuation order for the village of Gey remained in place. Over 1,400 firefighters participated in the efforts, but the fire's proximity to the settlement meant that the order would likely last throughout the day. The fire, which is considered the largest forest fire ever recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia, has been fueled by hot summer weather and a dry forest floor.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and have appealed to the public for information.
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