Germany news: Wildfire forces evacuations in western woods
Hundreds of villagers have been evacuated in western Germany after a wildfire spread close to a village. Meanwhile, farmers have warned that drought and high temperatures could cause major crop losses. DW has the latest.
A wildfire scorched through the Hürtgenwald region in western Germany, compelling the evacuation of approximately 1,800 residents. The flames, worsened by shifting winds, approached the village of Gey, situated roughly 45 kilometers southwest of Cologne. Authorities declared a mass damage situation on Thursday evening, triggering the evacuation around 4 a.m. local time on Friday. Neighboring Belgium's border lies close to the affected area.
Farmers in the region are grappling with the devastating effects of a prolonged drought and unseasonably high temperatures. Joachim Ruckwied, President of the German Farmers' Association, anticipates below-average harvests, particularly for wheat and rapeseed, with potential yield losses affecting potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, maize, and soy.
He warns that farmers in southern Germany, where feed crops are failing, may be forced to slaughter animals earlier than usual, adding to the financial strain due to high investment costs and lower market prices for agricultural products.
The blaze, confined to roughly 25 hectares of forest, necessitated the setup of an emergency shelter at a schoolhouse for affected residents. Emergency services were alerted, and evacuated individuals were advised to gather only essential items, including documents and medication, and to wear masks to mitigate poor air quality.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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