Belgium faced a major wildfire that continued to burn uncontrollably despite cooler weather and rain aiding firefighting efforts. At the same time, a fire briefly erupted near the main airport on the outskirts of Athens, Greece.

The Belgian wildfire, located in the eastern High Fens region near the German border, was predicted to persist for months due to the peaty soil allowing underground burning. The scorching and dry summer in Europe, attributed to climate change by recent studies, has exacerbated the situation.

King Philippe of Belgium interrupted his summer vacation to visit emergency services battling the blaze. The fire has ravaged approximately 30 square kilometers of land, leaving charred trees and smoldering ground behind.

Although the fire did not significantly spread, it remained out of control in inaccessible areas, according to the Wallonia region. Around 500 firefighters, supported by aircraft from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, worked tirelessly alongside local police using drones to combat the flames.

Farmers assisted by providing water for firefighting operations, as helicopters dropped water over the burning forests. The wildfire spokesperson mentioned the challenge of inaccessible areas where the fire persisted towards Monschau, Germany.

In Greece, an investigation was underway following a deadly wildfire on the island of Salamina that claimed two lives and destroyed homes. Elsewhere in Greece, new wildfires emerged, with firefighting teams swiftly containing a blaze near Athens.

An elderly man in Kavala, Greece, was arrested for suspected arson, adding to the 302 fire-related arrests made in the country this year. In France, a fire in the Landes region was finally under control after residents were evacuated due to the severe blaze. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced financial aid for affected regions to support rebuilding efforts.

Efforts to combat wildfires have been ongoing in various European countries, with Croatia also facing deliberate fire-starting incidents. Suspects were apprehended for igniting multiple fires near the town of Zadar, a popular tourism destination on the Adriatic coast.