Belgium engulfed by its largest-ever forest fire

Belgium is battling its largest-ever recorded forest fire in the Hautes Fagnes (High Fens) region in the east of the country. The blaze has consumed an estimated 1,600 hectares, surpassing the previous record of 1,400 hectares lost in 2011.

Firefighters from across Belgium are working to contain the fire, which started Tuesday afternoon in the country's largest and oldest nature reserve. They are receiving assistance from the Belgian army, police, and local farmers. The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, dispatching three helicopters and two firefighting planes to aid the operation.

Strong winds are fanning the flames, causing the fire to spread rapidly and generating dense smoke. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents from several villages, including Sourbrodt and parts of Bütgenbach, near Waimes. Evacuees are being housed in a nearby sports hall. Several sections of local roads have been closed, and the public has been urged to avoid the Hautes Fagnes area.

The region has recently experienced a heatwave, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius on Monday, marking the hottest day of the year so far. This extreme heat has contributed to the dry conditions that allowed the fire to ignite and spread so quickly.