Hundreds of villagers evacuate as Belgium battles record wildfire
Hundreds of residents were evacuated and more than 2,700 hectares were scorched as Belgium continued to battle one of the worst wildfires in its history on Saturday.
Firefighters from Belgium and Germany have been deployed to assist with a rapidly spreading wildfire in the Fagnes natural park, located in eastern Belgium near the German border. The blaze, which broke out on Friday, has consumed at least 16 square kilometers of forest and has been rapidly expanding overnight. In response to the escalating situation, water bomber aircraft and helicopters have been mobilized under the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism.
Locals in the nearby village of Sourbrodt, home to around 500 people, are under threat of evacuation due to the smoke produced by the fire. While no evacuation has been ordered yet, Nicolas Yernaux, a spokesman for regional authorities in Wallonia, stated that all available resources are being deployed to protect homes. Smoke has been visible in Eupen, a municipality close to the fire, causing the sky to gradually turn yellow, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.
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- Belgium tackles fast-growing wildfire as it burns through 1,600 hectares freemalaysiatoday.com
