DistantNews
Support us
Belgium requests EU aid as massive forest fire spreads rapidly
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Environment & Climate

Belgium requests EU aid as massive forest fire spreads rapidly

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Belgium has requested assistance from the European Union due to a rapidly spreading forest fire near Balen.
  • The fire has burned approximately 1,600 hectares since Friday afternoon, making it the largest forest fire in Belgium in 30 years.
  • Firefighters from Germany, and helicopters and planes from the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the Netherlands are assisting, along with the Belgian army.

Belgium has appealed to the European Union for help as a massive forest fire rages near the town of Balen, consuming vast swathes of land.

The fire, which ignited Friday afternoon, has already scorched an estimated 1,600 hectares, according to public broadcaster RTBF. This makes it the largest forest fire Belgium has witnessed in three decades. The scale of the blaze has prompted an urgent request for international support.

From Friday evening, German firefighters have been working at the fire site.

— Local authoritiesIndicating the international response to the Belgian forest fire.

In response to Belgium's plea, firefighters from Germany have been working at the scene since Friday evening. Additional resources are being mobilized, with helicopters and planes from the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the Netherlands deployed, as announced by EU Crisis Commissioner Hadja Lahbib on X. The Belgian civil protection agency has also requested assistance from the country's army, which is expected to provide fire engines from its air bases.

The situation remains critical as emergency services battle to contain the rapidly spreading fire. The extensive damage and the need for international cooperation underscore the severity of the environmental challenge facing Belgium.

Additional Czech, Swedish and Dutch helicopters and planes have been mobilized.

— Hadja LahbibEU Crisis Commissioner Hadja Lahbib announcing international air support.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog