Over 2,000 evacuated in western Germany due to raging wildfire near Belgian border

A wildfire near the Belgian border forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people from the village of Gey in western Germany. Authorities issued an urgent call for residents to leave their homes around 4:00 a.m., instructing them to take only essential belongings, identification, and necessary medications. They were directed to an assistance center established at a local primary school.

Mona Neubaur, deputy premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, expressed concern on X/Twitter, stating, "This forest fire threatens to hit the local community hard." Mayor Stephan Cranen reported that the evacuation was complete but the situation remained critical, with flames advancing to within approximately 300 meters of the village. He also noted that one of the uncontrolled fires was spreading towards a former munitions depot in the nearby town of Dueren.

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This forest fire threatens to hit the local community hard.

Adding to the danger, the area contains unexploded World War II ammunition. Firefighters reported hearing occasional detonations as the flames neared these sites, a hazard exacerbated by the hilly terrain that hindered complete clearance. Approximately 300 hectares are currently burning, and German army tanks are assisting firefighters by clearing access routes in the difficult forest terrain. Large areas of Germany are experiencing dry conditions, significantly increasing the risk of forest fires.

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although the evacuation was complete, the situation remained critical and the flames were now around 300 meters from the village