Large forest fire spreads from Belgium towards German border

A massive, out-of-control forest fire, which ignited on Friday in the mountainous nature park of Fagne in western Belgium, is currently spreading rapidly toward the German border. Firefighting units have been battling the flames for two days, though the fire has already consumed 30,000 decares of land, marking it as one of the most severe blazes in Belgian history.

As the fire front reached within 1.5 kilometers of the German border and 1.8 kilometers from residential areas, authorities in the German city of Monschau took decisive action. Initially issuing an evacuation advisory, the municipal government of the 12,000-resident town later ordered an mandatory evacuation for residents on two specific streets late on Saturday night. Emergency alert messages were dispatched to the public, and a shelter center was established at a local school to ensure civilian safety.

Municipal authorities in Monschau are continuously monitoring the fire’s progression, with meteorologists providing data to help assess the threat posed by shifting winds and heavy smoke. The situation remains critical as fire crews continue their efforts to contain the perimeter.