Two dead in Brit holiday hotspot inferno as Belgium’s biggest-EVER wildfire rages towards Germany and villages evacuated

TWO people have been killed in a Brit holiday hotspot as a huge blaze in Belgium threatens to cross into Germany. Hundreds were evacuated after fires broke out “almost simultaneously” on the Greek island of Salamina on Sunday. Hundreds were evacuated from the Greek island of Salamina Credit: AFP Firefighters found two people dead Credit: AFP Around 200 firefighters have been deployed to battle the flames, which were fanned by strong winds. The first blaze was reported at 2.40pm local time near the island’s southern coast and spread rapidly. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! A second fire erupted in the east just 20 minutes later, raising fears the two blazes could merge. More than 500 people have so far been evacuated by sea, although the cause of the fires remains unknown. A further 10 people suffered burns or smoke-related damage Credit: AFP Authorities are now working to bring the flames under control Credit: Eurokinissi/AFP via Getty Images Five patrol boats rushed to the affected areas, while several private vessels also joined the rescue effort. A number of aircraft and around 50 fire engines have been deployed as crews fight to bring the infernos under control. In a shocking development, firefighters attending the first blaze discovered the bodies of two people at the scene. At least 10 others suffered burns or showed “symptoms of smoke inhalation”, Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said. Most read in The Sun Fires have devastated other parts of Europe, including in Belgium Credit: X Flames are slowly making their way towards the border with Germany Credit: X Salamina Deputy Mayor Thodoris Zannis said firefighters were desperately working to prevent the two fires from joining and forming a single, much larger blaze. Elsewhere in Europe, hundreds of firefighters are battling the largest wildfire in Belgium’s history as it tears through land towards the German border. The inferno has scorched around 3,000 hectares, doubling in size over the past 24 hours and advancing to within just two miles of Germany. The blaze, which has ripped through the Higher Fens nature reserve in eastern Belgium, began on Friday. Fire crews from Germany and Luxembourg, as well as teams supported by the EU, have been called in to help contain the flames. Around 600 residents in nearby municipalities in Liège province, close to the German border, were ordered to evacuate on Saturday as thick smoke engulfed their homes. Authorities in the nearby German town of Monschau warned residents overnight that the fire had reached within two miles of the border. Aerial reinforcements from the Czech Republic and Sweden were also due to begin assisting Belgian federal police helicopters and Dutch aircraft late on Sunday. The inferno has scorched around 3,000 hectares in the past 24 hours Credit: X Fire crews from multiple European nations are working tirelessly to manage the situation Credit: X Belgium, like much of Europe, has been gripped by another spell of extreme heat and dry weather, with temperatures reaching 37C in parts of the country on Friday. Thousands of people across Germany, France, the UK, Croatia and Greece have been forced to flee their homes this month as intense wildfires have followed a series of heatwaves. In Croatia, four people were arrested over allegations they deliberately started some of the wildfires that have swept across the Adriatic coast. Police said they were alerted to the suspects after members of the public reported “suspicious behaviour”. The Croatian fires have killed at least one person, injured 40 others and forced more than 1,000 residents and tourists to evacuate. Croatia’s fire chief Slavko Tucakovic described the disaster as one of the worst blazes in the country’s history after flames consumed 1,000 hectares in just four hours. Comment now