Belgium's record wildfire races toward German border

Summary A wildfire in eastern Belgium has scorched around 3,000 hectares of woodland, peatland and moorland, becoming the country's largest recorded wildfire and raising fears that flames could reach Germany. The scale of the blaze has shocked Belgium, with officials saying it is far larger than the previous national wildfire record set in 2011. The disaster comes as much of Europe faces intense heat and drought, conditions that are increasing wildfire risks across the continent. AI Generated Summary A wildfire in eastern Belgium has scorched around 3,000 hectares of woodland, peatland and moorland, becoming the country's largest recorded wildfire and raising fears that flames could reach Germany. The blaze erupted in the High Fens nature reserve, an area known for forests and fragile wetlands. Firefighters, soldiers, farmers and crews from neighboring countries have joined the operation, using helicopters, water-bombing aircraft and ground vehicles to battle the flames. Authorities have evacuated around 600 residents from nearby areas and warned those who left their homes not to return yet. The fire has spread through difficult terrain, while dry vegetation and recent heatwaves have made containment challenging. Rain that began falling on Monday offered firefighters a welcome boost, increasing humidity and lowering temperatures. However, officials remain cautious as the fire continues to threaten parts of the region near the German border. The scale of the blaze has shocked Belgium, with officials saying it is far larger than the previous national wildfire record set in 2011. The disaster comes as much of Europe faces intense heat and drought, conditions that are increasing wildfire risks across the continent. Authorities are investigating what caused the Belgian fire.