Rain aids fight against Belgium's biggest wildfire, as blazes rip through Europe

Rain aids fight against Belgium's biggest wildfire, as blazes rip through Europe  Reuters

Fires fuelled by climate change have intensified drought and left vegetation tinder-dry

BELGIUM: Rain over eastern Belgium on Monday (Aug 17) morning aided firefighters battling to contain the country's biggest wildfire on record, which had threatened to reach the German border.Wildfires have ripped through Europe this summer after successive severe heatwaves, fuelled by climate change, have intensified d

HIGH FENS NATIONAL PARK, Belgium, Aug 17 - Rain started falling on Monday morning over eastern Belgium, bringing crucial help to firefighters who have been battling to contain Belgium's biggest ever wildfire which has threatened to reach the German border.

The fire in eastern Belgium doubled in size over 24 hours by Sunday morning. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on Saturday, with three helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft arriving from Sweden, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.