Wildfires continue to spread across parts of Europe as countries battle one of the hottest and driest summers on record. In Belgium, one of the country’s largest wildfires continued to burn in the eastern High Fens, near the German border, despite cooler weather and overnight rain. King Philippe visited emergency services battling the blaze. Dozens of firefighters, supported by aircraft from Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, are working to contain the fire.
In Greece, investigators are examining a wildfire on the island of Salamina that killed two people, injured nine and destroyed several homes. Another fire broke out near Spata, east of Athens, close to the capital’s international airport.
Meanwhile, in southwestern France, a wildfire in the Landes region has been brought under control after four days of firefighting. Authorities have begun allowing some of the over 600 evacuated residents to return home as temperatures ease.
A recent study has linked Europe’s extreme heat and dry conditions to climate change.
