Evacuation of residents in eastern Belgium due to a wildfire that has consumed 1,600 hectares

Residents in eastern Belgium began evacuating two villages on Saturday, as firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft and helicopters from across Europe, battled one of the largest wildfires in the country’s history.

Reinforcements were deployed from across the country to combat the fire, which broke out on Friday in the Hautes Fagnes natural park, a vast expanse of forests and grasslands near the German border, and quickly spread.

By Saturday afternoon, the blaze had consumed at least 16 square kilometers (1,600 hectares), according to Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for the Walonia regional authorities.

Local authorities ordered residents in parts of the villages of Soubreux and Botrange to evacuate around 4:00 p.m. (14:00 GMT), according to a Facebook post.

Authorities advised other residents in the area to shelter in place and keep doors and windows closed.

A shelter was set up in a sports hall in a neighboring municipality for those who had evacuated their homes.

Yernaux described the fire, which he called “the largest in modern Belgian history,” as still out of control.

He added, “There is a risk that the flames could reach homes, but we are deploying all available resources to protect them.”

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Claeys visited the fire zone. He was accompanied by a France Press journalist who reported that a vast area of vegetation was burning, with thick smoke rising.

Claeys told France Press, “When you see how things were this morning and how they are now, you are shocked.”

He added, “But at the same time, we are grateful for the work that has been done. You can see farmers here driving around the area and participating in water-dropping operations. It is amazing, incredibly amazing.”

On social media, many farmers posted images as they headed to the fire zone to support emergency teams.