Firefighters were battling a massive wildfire in eastern Belgium on Sunday after flames swept through about 30 square kilometers (12 square miles) of the High Fens nature reserve, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
Authorities ordered around 600 people living in the nearby municipalities of Waimes and Bütgenbach, in Liège province near the German border, to leave their homes Saturday as shifting winds pushed smoke and flames closer to populated areas.
Tourists were also advised to leave the region, while a local gymnasium was opened as an emergency shelter for evacuees.
More than 250 emergency personnel, including over 100 Belgian and German firefighters, were deployed to tackle the blaze, according to Liège provincial governor Hervé Jamar. Police, military personnel and civil protection teams were also assisting the operation.
Firefighting helicopters operated by Belgium's federal police and the Netherlands were supporting crews on the ground.
René Dahmen, chief engineer at the Department of Nature and Forest, said the fire continued to spread Sunday in difficult terrain that was challenging for firefighters to access.
He said a stretch of the fire line at least one kilometer long was slowly moving toward a municipal forest, making it a priority for firefighting teams.
"The situation is extremely difficult," Dahmen said, stressing the need for continued helicopter support.
No homes had been damaged as of Sunday morning, officials said. However, the fire remained near residential areas and thick smoke continued to blanket parts of the region.
Authorities urged residents and visitors to stay away from the affected area, warning that unnecessary traffic could obstruct emergency vehicles and hamper firefighting efforts.
European countries provide assistance
Belgium activated the European Union's civil protection mechanism to seek international assistance as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said Belgium was receiving support from other European countries.
Sweden sent two water-bombing aircraft, while three helicopters — two from the Netherlands and one from the Czech Republic — were also being deployed to assist Belgian and German crews.
The wildfire comes after weeks of unusually hot and dry weather in Belgium. The High Fens, which contains large areas of heathland and peat bogs, has proved particularly difficult to fight because of the terrain and dry vegetation.
Another intense heat wave affected Belgium this week, with temperatures reaching around 37 C (98.6 F) in parts of the country on Friday.
