Forest fires in eastern Germany
Forest fires caused by severe drought conditions ignited in the eastern German states of Brandenburg and Saxony early Tuesday morning.
In the southern part of the state of Brandenburg, more than 150 firefighters are trying to contain a fire that covers about 800 hectares of land.
A spokesman for the firefighters said the situation was "extremely tense".
About 600 residents were evacuated from their homes.
In statements to the German news agency (dpa), Deputy Commissioner for Forest Fire Protection Philip Hasse said that the situation is confusing due to high winds, noting that the fire is raging in the forest between wind turbines and that at least one of these turbines is in the area of the fire as well. other turbines at risk.
Hasse stated that there is a strong billowing of smoke that can be seen from afar.
Local officials said at least seven emergency personnel were injured during the fire control operations, and six of them were taken to hospital.
Firefighters are also trying to put out a fire in the Saxon Switzerland National Park in the German state of Saxony, and local authorities issued an initial disaster warning late on Monday.
As of early Tuesday morning, 136 emergency personnel were still at the site.
"Our biggest problem is the wind," a spokesperson for the district administration said.
Elsewhere in Europe, forest areas continued to burn, such as Greece, where the risk of further fires remains high as of Tuesday.
A forest fire in the southern part of the island of Lesbos, which was not under control until Monday, destroyed about 1,700 hectares of land.
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