Europe wildfires: latest developments
Countries across Europe on Sunday battled wildfires amid blistering temperatures and tinder-dry landscapes.
A historically hot summer has contributed to the deaths of thousands of people -- and increased the risk of forest fires. Here are the latest developments:
- Belgium fire doubles -
A wildfire raging in a nature reserve in eastern Belgium, the biggest to hit the country in recent history, has more than doubled in size in 24 hours to affect some 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres), authorities said.
The Wallonia regional government said more than 250 firefighters and other emergency personnel were mobilised through the night, but that "conditions remain challenging" two days after the fire's outbreak in the High Fens park.
- Four arrested over Croatia fires -
Croatian police said they had arrested four people suspected of starting some of the wildfires that have swept parts of the Adriatic coast in recent days.
The four are suspected of setting fires that scorched pine forests and olive groves as Croatia battles a wave of blazes fuelled by drought and heat.
- France gets a grip on wildfires
A fire in southwestern France has burnt 1,700 hectares since Thursday, but "the situation is developing more favourably", with no major flare-ups in the night, according to regional prefect Gilles Clavreul, thanks in particular to falling temperatures.
The circumstances of another fire in the northeastern Ardennes had improved, a local official said. Around 100 hectares have been burnt since Saturday, a situation described as "unprecedented in the recent history" of the department, according to the deputy director of the Ardennes fire service, David Gouzou.
- Greek island fire -
Firefighters were battling for a second day to contain a forest fire on the Greek Aegean island of Skyros, as the local mayor voiced hope it could soon be brought under control.
"Within the day I believe the fire will be fully extinguished," Skyros mayor Kyriakos Antonopoulos told state TV ERT.
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