An elderly couple died in fires on the Greek island of Salamis on Sunday while a wildfire devastated Belgium’s largest nature reserve.
The couple perished outside their home in Salamis’ Peristeria beach area, according to Greece’s coastguard. Over 500 residents were evacuated.
Belgium’s High Fens nature reserve suffered extensive damage from a wildfire that ignited on Friday, consuming 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) by Sunday. It neared Germany’s border as winds carried spreading smoke.
Authorities ordered 600 residents in Waimes and Bütgenbach to evacuate, with tourists also advised to leave. Winds shifted, complicating containment efforts.
Over 250 firefighters, including German reinforcements, responded. Some evacuees sheltered in a sports hall, while others stayed with family.
Local farmers assisted by drawing water from Lake Robertville using tractors.
Aircraft support—two Swedish water bombers and four helicopters (two Belgian, two Dutch)—was critical due to the reserve’s ecologically sensitive terrain, including dense forests, peat bogs, and fragile boardwalks.
Access to Lake Bütgenbach was closed Sunday to allow aircraft refueling.
Though challenges persist, two fire fronts near Jalhay and Monschau are now controlled, reported Interior Minister Bernard Quintin after visiting a crisis center in Vottem.
Officials termed it Belgium’s worst modern wildfire, originating in an area scarred by a 1911 blaze during a drought.
Climate change-driven extreme weather is amplifying wildfire risks globally, with Europe facing record heat and heightened fire danger.
Intense heatwaves across much of Europe have created ideal conditions for wildfires to spread rapidly.
Earlier this week, a Croatian resort fire killed one, injured 40, and forced 1,200 evacuations. The EU warned of “very extreme” wildfire zones continent-wide.