Belgian wildfire approaches Germany despite rain as Greece probes deadly blaze

A massive wildfire raged out of control in Belgium on Monday, even as cooler weather and rain provided some relief to firefighters, while Greece experienced a brief flare-up of a fire near Athens' main airport. Europe is currently enduring one of its hottest and driest summers on record, a phenomenon attributed to climate change, according to a recent study.

Belgian King Philippe temporarily abandoned his summer break to tour emergency services combating the fire in the eastern High Fens, approximately eight kilometers (five miles) away from the German border. The blaze in Liège province has consumed an estimated 30 square kilometers (about 12 square miles), leaving behind charred trees and smoldering ground.

As the smoke from the burning wood permeated the foggy forest early Monday, dozens of firefighters received assistance from aircraft dispatched from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, along with local police utilizing drones to monitor the fires. Despite a welcome cold front bringing overnight rain, King Philippe's spokesperson, Nicolas Yernaux, stated that the fire had been largely contained around the areas where firefighters were present.

However, he also noted that the rain did not significantly impact the central portion of the blaze. Yernaux acknowledged that there was still an area inaccessible to firemen where the fire seemed to continue its advance towards Monschau in Germany.