Wildfires in eastern Germany injure firefighters and force evacuations
Nearly 500 firefighters have been deployed to battle the blazes that broke out on Tuesday in Gohrischheide on the border between the eastern states of Saxony and Brandenburg.
One female and one male firefighter suffered burns during the firefighting operation.
The fires have ripped through hundreds of square kilometres and by Thursday had still not been brought under control.
A state police helicopter equipped with special cameras to detect pockets of embers is being used, the German news agency dpa reported.
Firefighters were having difficulty getting close to the flames because parts of the wildfires are on a former military training area where there is a risk that ammunition stored there could detonate.
The villages of Heidehäuser and Neudorf and parts of the village of Lichtensee have been evacuated.
Residents received mobile phone alerts directing them to only take essentials, especially identification and cash.
The notice advised them to inform neighbours and "cover your mouth and nose with improvised respiratory protection (cloth, piece of clothing, surgical mask)."
District officials called on people travelling by car to avoid the region.
An African anticyclone is sweeping across Europe, leading to record temperatures of up to 46 degrees Celsius in some countries.
That severe heat has led to several wildfires across the continent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
Parts of Europe cool off after days of extreme heat yet risks remain
Relief from extreme heat began to reach some areas of Europe during the weekend, bringing cooler temperatures and thunderstorms after days of record-breaking heatwaves. Germany reported a maximum daytime temperature of 24 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while Spain and Italy also saw temperatures averaging around 27C and 30C. Belgium and Luxembourg experienced significant rainfall as temperatures dropped, marking the end of a spell of back-to-back days of scorching heat. The cool-off came as a significant relief to many, as severe heatwaves across the continent caused temperatures to rise above 40°C (104°F) in countries including France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, with domestic authorities in some issuing red alerts and warning of the possibility of wildfires. At least eight people have died across Europe—four people in Spain, two in France, and two in Italy—from the early summer heatwave as temperatures hit new records. Though the extreme heat began to move east last Wednesday, meteorologists warned that the danger is, however, far from over. Germany In Germany, authorities issued warnings of forest fires on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg. According to the district of Meißen, hundreds of firefighters continued to combat the flames in an attempt to shield villages on the Saxon side of the Gohrischheide. Four firefighting helicopters from the German army, federal police and state police were also deployed. Around 2,100 hectares of the Gohrischheide nature reserve continue to burn, according to local authorities, who described the situation on the Saxon side as particularly tense. According to the Meißen district office, more than 550 firefighters, technical relief workers, the German Armed Forces, police and other organisations with up to 140 vehicles were once again deployed to fight the fire on Sunday. In addition to the firefighting helicopters, helpers from Saxony-Anhalt and a firefighting robot from Brandenburg supported the operation, officials said. Spain In Spain, many residents are increasingly choosing to spend their summer vacations in colder Nordic nations. Last year, Spaniards were the eighth-largest tourist group in Finland, but interest is growing, with nearly 200,000 Spanish tourists visiting the Nordic country. Although Finland is not yet as popular a tourist destination during the summer as it is in winter, it is gradually becoming an alternative, as more and more people seek a cooler retreat to escape the Mediterranean heat. While Spaniards consider vacationing in cooler weather, many tourists are choosing to travel to Spain in search of sunshine. This year, Spain is expecting up to 100 million tourists. Poland Meanwhile, in Poland, rivers are drying up at a historic rate, with up to 300 hydrological stations in the central European country currently registering the lowest water levels in its history. Weather authorities reported that the water level in the Vistula, Poland's largest river, has significantly subsided, breaking a record. The biggest Polish river has fallen to just 13 centimetres at the Bulwary monitoring station in Warsaw. All provinces along the Polish rivers—including the Vistula, Odra, Warta, Bug, and Narew—have been placed on alert due to the drought. Poland's eastern, central, and southern regions are the most affected, according to reports. Experts are particularly concerned by forecasts for July and early August, predicting further heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 35C, combined with an almost complete lack of precipitation and low humidity in the country's forests. The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has warned that less than half of the monthly rainfall norm is expected to fall in many regions of the country. Meanwhile, statistically, July was projected to be the month with the highest rainfall totals of the year. UN: Humans will have to learn to live with heatwaves Experts warn that extreme weather events of this nature are becoming increasingly frequent in the southern part of Europe, attributing the increased frequency and severity of heatwaves to climate change. Last week, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) spokesperson, Clare Nullis, said humans will have to learn to live with more frequent and intense heatwaves as a result of climate change. 'We are currently under the influence of a strong high-pressure system; this is trapping hot air from northern Africa over the region. And as we can see, it's having a pretty big impact on the way we feel," the WMO representative said.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
Firefighters battle wildfires in Germany, Greece and Turkey
Firefighters across Europe continue to battle forest fires amid blistering heatwaves, as blazes broke out in Germany, Greece and Turkey on Saturday. Hundreds of German firefighters have been battling blazes for days in the forested regions of Thuringia and Saxony, including the Gohrischheide nature reserve near the Brandenburg border. Around 650 emergency personnel were deployed by midday on Saturday, officials said. Fire alerts were issued via mobile apps by authorities. While officials in Saxony described the situation there as largely stable, authorities in Brandenburg said they were prepared for the fire to potentially reignite. Firefighters in Greece made progress in containing a wildfire that broke out on Friday afternoon in eastern Attica, the Greek fire service said on Saturday. Authorise had earlier ordered evacuations of nearby residents after reports of homes being damaged. People living in Agios Dimitrios, Galazia Akti and Althea received emergency alerts on their phones instructing them to evacuate to the coast. The fire service deployed around 120 firefighters, supported by eight helicopters and eight aircraft, to fight the fire. Strong winds and dry conditions have raised the risk of wildfires across the country, prompting heightened vigilance by emergency services. In Turkey, firefighters have reportedly brought several large wildfires under control in the western Izmir province. Fanned by strong winds, fires left homes uninhabitable and forced the evacuation of several neighbourhoods after flames reached residential areas. Ground crews, supported by planes and helicopters, worked around the clock for three days to contain the fires, according to the Turkish forestry directorate. Turkey also reportedly sent two aircraft and 11 fire engines along with support vehicles to Syria on Saturday to help in the firefighting efforts there. Large wildfires there continue to wreak havoc as they devour coastal forests fanned by strong winds and drought. Efforts to halt the series of wildfires have been complicated by the presence of unexploded munitions left over from more than a decade of civil war.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Euronews
Major power outage in Czech Republic halts Prague metro and trams
A temporary power outage hit parts of Prague and other areas of the Czech Republic on Friday, bringing public transport and trains to a standstill, officials said. Prague's entire metro network was inoperative starting at noon, the capital city's transport authority said. But the A and C lines were restored in about 15 minutes while the B line was back in about 30 minutes, it said. Most trams on the right bank of the Vltava River in Prague were halted, while those on the left bank were not affected. Some trains near Prague and in other regions were unable to operate. The Václav Havel Airport, the capital's international airport, was not hit by the power outage, according to Czech media. Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated in a post on X that the outage affected other parts of the country, and authorities were working to resolve the issue. "We are investigating the causes and solving the problem," Fiala said. The regions of Ústí, Liberec and Hradec Králové reported problems with power outages, ČEPS power grid operator and domestic media reported. Czech hospitals were immediately switched to an emergency power supply, according to Health Minister Vlastimil Valek. "I want to reassure everyone. Healthcare facilities have clear procedures for such situations. Backup generators have been activated in the affected hospitals. Patient care is not at risk," Valek wrote in a post on X. It was not immediately clear what caused the issue. However, officials ruled out a cyber attack. Earlier this week, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CzHMU) warned that temperatures could reach 37 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country this week. Authorities have warned of potential dangers associated with high temperatures, including the risk of fires.
