Europe wildfires: latest developments

Firefighters in Belgium battled to contain the country's worst wildfire in a century on Monday, while Greece said a deadly blaze near Athens had been controlled.

But anger over the official response to Europe's summer of fires boiled over in France when that country's prime minister was jeered as he visited a village devastated by a forest inferno.

Here are the latest developments across Europe:

- Spain 'optimistic' about blaze -

Authorities in Spain's northeastern Aragon region said they were "optimistic" in the fight against a huge fire that has razed more than 17,000 hectares over the past week.

Officials directing the battle against the blaze said the "major part" of the fire had been stabilised, and two historic monasteries threatened by the flames are now not thought to be in danger.

- Belgian blaze stops short of German border -

Belgium's biggest wildfire in a century, which has devastated some 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) of the High Fens nature reserve, halted short of the German border.

But officials warned the blaze was not yet contained and could still spread further.

- French PM jeered -

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced help for regions in his country hit by wildfires, including 12 million euros in aid for two of the worst-affected areas.

Earlier, around 200 people dressed in black heckled Lecornu as he visited a village in the Gironde region, where 183 homes burned down.

Some residents allege authorities prioritised fighting fires in the upscale Cap-Ferret peninsula -- where many affluent Parisians take holidays -- over protecting the homes of locals.

- Rain boosts Belgium's fight -

Rain fell in Belgium, bringing much-needed respite to the 500 firefighters and emergency crews tackling the blaze, but officials warned conditions could change fast.

Germany's defence ministry said that two military water-bombing helicopters would be sent to Belgium. The German town of Monschau, close to the border, ordered nearly 30 people living in two streets near the frontier to evacuate.

- Greece controls deadly blaze -

Two fires on the Greek island of Salamis near Athens that claimed two lives and led to the evacuation of nearly 600 people on boats have been largely extinguished, the fire service said Monday.

The fires broke out Sunday near packed beaches on the island just west of Athens that is popular with day-trippers. Though the civil protection agency issued evacuation orders, the fire department said the fires spread in just seven minutes owing to strong winds, trapping an elderly couple near their home.

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