In Belgium, one of the largest fires in the country's history in recent years has been ongoing for the third day. The fire in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve has covered an area of 3,000 hectares. This was reported by the BBC.
Hundreds of firefighters are fighting the fire. Due to the fire, residents of two nearby villages have been evacuated.
Water-dropping aircraft sent from Sweden and the Netherlands, as well as four helicopters belonging to Belgium and the Netherlands, have been involved in rescue operations. Local farmers are also helping with water tankers.
According to local officials, the fire started on Friday on an area of 80 hectares. By Saturday it had spread to 850 hectares, and by Sunday morning to 3,000 hectares.
High temperatures, as well as the abundance of swamps and forests in the reserve, are complicating firefighting efforts. Because some areas are inaccessible, firefighters have been forced to conduct controlled burns of parts of the fire.
Officials have stated that two directions of the fire — towards Jalhay and Monschau — have been brought under control. So far, no houses have been damaged as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
