Firefighters battled separate, large wildfires Sunday, one tearing through a nature reserve east of Belgium’s capital and another scorching a Greek island near Athens, where two people were killed amid scorching heat and parched conditions across Europe.
In Belgium, crews fought a blaze that consumed part of a nature reserve in the eastern part of the country. The fire signaled the seriousness of conditions in the region as firefighters pressed on to contain the spread and protect surrounding areas.
On the Greek island near Athens—identified in reports as Salamina—the effort was also intense. A separate wildfire prompted emergency responses as authorities reported two fatalities. The deadly blaze added to a string of hot, dry conditions fueling fires across parts of Europe.
Images accompanying reports show aircraft dropping water to dampen flames as responders worked to establish containment lines and protect communities and ecologically sensitive zones from the advancing fires.
While details on the size of the Belgian blaze and the precise location of the Greek fire were not provided, authorities are focusing on rapid response given the weather conditions described as hot and dry. The incidents illustrate how wildfires remain an urgent and evolving threat across parts of Europe, prompting coordinated firefighting efforts and ongoing monitoring.
No further information on casualties beyond the two confirmed fatalities in Greece, or on the potential evacuations or impacts on nearby residents and infrastructure, was included in the briefing. As conditions persist, officials and firefighting services remain engaged in suppression and containment operations, with updates expected as the situation develops.
