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Two dead in Greece, record wildfire in Belgium advances toward German border
🇦🇷 Argentina /Disasters & Emergencies

Two dead in Greece, record wildfire in Belgium advances toward German border

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Two people died and hundreds were evacuated on the Greek island of Salamina due to two separate wildfires that broke out within 20 minutes of each other.
  • Simultaneously, Belgium is battling its largest-ever wildfire, which has consumed over 27 square kilometers and is advancing toward the German border.
  • Firefighters across Europe are collaborating to combat the Belgian blaze, while the cause of the Greek fires remains unknown.

Two people have died and hundreds were evacuated on the Greek island of Salamina, near Athens, following two wildfires that ignited just 20 minutes apart on Sunday. The fires spread rapidly due to strong winds, raising fears they could merge into a single massive blaze.

Our polling shows that people do want to renegotiate our relationship with Europe, but by moving closer, not by damaging ties with vital allies and punishing our neighbours, colleagues and friends who have settled status here.

— Tom BrufattoExecutive director of policy at Best for Britain, commenting on the potential violation of the EU withdrawal agreement.

The first fire started in Peristeria, an area with both residential and wooded sections. Shortly after, a second fire broke out in Selinia. Approximately 200 firefighters, supported by numerous fire trucks, aircraft, patrol boats, and private vessels, worked to prevent the two fronts from converging. During firefighting efforts, two bodies were discovered in the affected area.

Over 500 people were evacuated by sea, according to Greek media. At least ten individuals suffered burns or smoke inhalation symptoms, with five receiving local medical attention, as reported by the Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiades. The cause of these fires is currently under investigation. Salamina, home to about 37,000 residents, many of whom are elderly, was under a high wildfire risk alert.

paying benefits to non-British people was “plain immoral”

— Robert JenrickReform UK's finance spokesperson, justifying the proposed cuts.

Meanwhile, over 2,000 kilometers away, Belgium is grappling with its largest wildfire on record in the High Fens nature reserve in the province of Liège. Since Friday, more than 250 emergency service personnel have been fighting the blaze, which has already destroyed over 27 square kilometers and is moving towards the German border.

the amount spent on disability benefits was “not generosity … it is suicidal empathy”.

— Robert JenrickReform UK's finance spokesperson, describing spending on disability benefits.

This Belgian fire significantly surpasses the previous record of 14 square kilometers set in 2011 in the same reserve. Firefighters from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands are collaborating to contain the fire front heading towards Germany. Around 600 residents from the border municipalities of Waimes and Butgenbach were ordered to evacuate their homes on Saturday due to a shift in winds.

When Pip helps people go to work, play a role in our society and simply live, threatening to remove Pip demonstrates that Reform do not want disabled people to play a full role in our society.

— Rachael MaskellLabour MP, criticizing the proposed cuts to disability benefits.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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