Capitals, Aug. 14 (SANA)Wildfires are spreading across Europe as aheatwavegrips large parts of the continent, pushing beyond the traditional Mediterranean basin into central and western Europe, where German authorities evacuated some 2,000 people after a forest fire approached a village in North Rhine-Westphalia, according to Reuters.

In westernGermany, residents of the village of Gey, part of the Hürtgenwald municipality near the Belgian border, were ordered to evacuate in the early morning hours as flames came within 200 meters of homes, with a primary school in a neighboring village set up as a shelter.

Unexploded WWII munitions complicate firefighting

The region’s forests contain unexploded ordnance fromWorld War II, complicating firefighting efforts and causing sporadic explosions during the blaze, according to authorities. Two German army tanks were deployed to open access routes to rugged terrain, alongside firefighting teams, helicopters and relief units, but the fire remained out of control, local officials said.

Approximately 300 personnel were involved in firefighting operations, with firebreak corridors being established to limit the spread.

Germany’s heat-related deaths top 11,900

The wildfires come as Germany faces severe heat and drought, with data from the Robert Koch Institute estimating approximately 9,600 heat-related deaths during the last week of June, bringing the total for this year to around 11,900, according to Deutsche Welle. The Agriculture Ministry has warned of drought impacts on crops, fodder and wildfire risks.

UK records unprecedented fire season

In Britain, the number of wildfires recorded since the start of the year has exceeded the 2025 total of 1,017 fires, according to the chair of the National Council of Fire Chiefs. Fires in central England have destroyed homes and forced hundreds to evacuate, as London recorded 38.1°C on Thursday—the fifth highest temperature in the country’s history.

European data reveals the scale of the crisis. According to a Euronews analysis of Global Wildfire Information System data, approximately 489,826 hectares have burned in the EU by the end of week 31, ranking 2026 as the fourth worst year since 2012 for this period and exceeding the 2012-2025 average by roughly 13 percent.

Spainremains the hardest-hit country with approximately 185,948 hectares burned, followed byFrancewith 99,092,Italywith 79,084,Portugalwith 47,776, andGreecewith 23,839.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 35°C across areas home to more than 150 million people on Friday, including approximately 46 million in France and 34 million in western Germany, as well as more than 10 million inBelgiumand some 12 million in theNetherlands, according to an AFP analysis based on German weather forecasts and population data.

The numbers placeEuropebefore a fire season that is spreading beyond the continent’s southern limits, with fire risks reaching areas historically less exposed.

Experts warn that continued heat and drought are expanding the area of combustible land, increasing pressure on firefighting teams and water resources. Professor Simone Faratto of the University of Reading warned that wildfire risks “are no longer confined to the Mediterranean region,” according to Euronews.