Firefighters battle wildfires in Belgium and Greece as 2 die on an island near Athens

Live updates

1. 29d ago

   Wildfires rage in Belgium and Greece, 2 dead near Athens

   Firefighters are battling massive wildfires in Belgium and Greece. In Greece, two people have died near Athens, with hundreds evacuated. In Belgium, hundreds have also been evacuated as the country's largest wildfire on record threatens to spread to Germany. Rainfall has aided the fight against the Belgian wildfire, which is no longer advancing towards the German border.

   Why it matters

   The wildfires in Belgium and Greece are part of a larger wave of fires sweeping through Europe. The blazes have prompted evacuations and raised concerns about the impact of climate change on wildfire risk. Firefighters have been deployed to combat the fires, with aircraft and ground crews working to contain the blazes.

   What is confirmed

   • Belgium's biggest wildfire on record has forced hundreds to evacuate.
   • Two people have died in wildfires near Athens, Greece.
   • Rainfall has aided the fight against the Belgian wildfire.
   • The Belgian wildfire is no longer advancing towards the German border.

   Still unconfirmed

   • France's Lecornu was jeered in relation to wildfires.

   What to watch next

   • Further updates on the investigation into the Greek wildfire that killed two people
   • Progress in containing the Belgian wildfire
   • Impact of climate change on wildfire risk in Europe
   Sources used for this update (10)

   1. Reuters — Belgium's biggest wildfire on record heads towards Germany
   2. AP News — Firefighters battle a massive Belgian wildfire that forced hundreds to evacuate
   3. BBC — Two dead and hundreds evacuated as wildfires break out near Athens
   4. The Guardian — Greek wildfire kills two people as aircraft deployed to blaze at Belgian nature reserve
   5. NBC News — Firefighters battle massive wildfires in Belgium and Greece as 2 die on an island near Athens
   6. Yahoo — Belgium wildfire no longer advancing towards German border
   7. Reuters — Rainfall aids fight against Belgium's biggest wildfire, as blazes rip through Europe
   8. The Hill — Belgian wildfire approaches Germany despite rain as Greece probes deadly blaze
   9. dw.com — Wildfires: Belgium battles blaze, France's Lecornu jeered
   10. AP News — Belgian wildfire approaches Germany as Greece probes deadly blaze
   confidence 85%