Forest Fire Spreads in Dutch Nature Reserve for Second Day
Firefighters in Limburg province were still battling an uncontrolled blaze near the village of Oostrum by midday Tuesday.
A forest fire in a nature reserve near the village of Oostrum in the Dutch province of Limburg continued to spread for a second day, with authorities saying it remained out of control.
The fire started around noon on Monday in the reserve near the German border.
"By midday Tuesday it was still not under control," provincial authorities said on their website.
AFP journalists at the scene could see immense clouds of smoke pouring from the forest, with at least two firefighting helicopters making round trips to pick up water and dump it on the flames.
Dozens of firetrucks and first aid workers were congregated at a hotel in the neighbouring town of Venray. Numerous local roads were blocked and a nearby campsite was evacuated.
The next few hours will be particularly tense, with firefighters forced to constantly adapt to the gusting winds, a regional safety spokesman told the ANP news agency.
European countries, which endured an unprecedented heat wave in June, are facing a major drought that has dried up rivers and led to water restrictions and devastating forest fires.
Human-fuelled climate change has accelerated moisture loss from soil, lakes and rivers, heightening the risk of extreme droughts, scientists from World Weather Attribution warned last month.
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