Greece wildfires kill two as Belgium evacuations grow

Wildfires in Greece and Belgium have killed two people and triggered expanding evacuations as emergency crews battle large, fast-moving blazes during a period of heat and dry conditions across Europe, officials said.

In Greece, officials said two bodies were found on Sunday near Peristeria beach on the island of Salamis after two separate fires broke out in the area. Authorities did not provide further details on the victims or the causes of the fires in the information available.

Belgium’s High Fens fire becomes the largest in over a century In Belgium, officials said a wildfire in the High Fens nature reserve has burned 3,000 hectares, describing it as the country’s biggest blaze in more than a century. The fire started on Friday and has continued to grow as crews work to limit its spread.

Authorities said about 600 people were evacuated from the municipalities of Waimes and Bütgenbach. Officials have not said when residents may return, warning that conditions in and around the fire zone remain unstable.

Peat bogs and dense forest restrict ground operations

Emergency services said firefighting in the High Fens has been complicated by difficult terrain, with peat bogs and dense woodland restricting access. Officials said the landscape prevents the use of heavy ground vehicles, reducing the tools available to teams operating on the fire line.

Officials also warned that prolonged heat and dryness have left landscapes highly combustible. They said shifting winds have contributed to extreme fire fronts, increasing the risk that flames can change direction and intensity quickly.

Water-bombing aircraft deployed from three countries

To offset limited land access, officials said six water-bombing aircraft were deployed from Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The aircraft are being used to attack fire lines and slow the spread in locations that are hard to reach from the ground.

Officials said the fire’s fronts have threatened residential areas and cross-border infrastructure, highlighting operational risks when wind conditions change rapidly. In Belgium, officials said two fronts near Jalhay and Monschau are currently under control, while stressing that the overall situation remains volatile.

Multiple countries report simultaneous emergency operations

Officials said similar emergency responses are ongoing elsewhere in Europe, including Croatia, Germany, France, and Spain. With large incidents unfolding in several countries at once, authorities said pressure has increased on emergency services as resources are stretched across simultaneous deployments.

Officials said crews across affected areas remain focused on protecting lives, securing residential zones, and keeping key infrastructure operating as conditions continue to shift.