A severe heatwave pushing temperatures close to 40°C has sparked numerous forest fires across eastern Germany. In the Gohrischheide region of Saxony, a major blaze has spread across approximately 200 hectares, with flames advancing northwards despite overnight efforts to contain it.

Nearly 500 firefighters and emergency personnel have been deployed to tackle the fires, with two firefighters sustaining serious injuries. The towns of Zeithain, Wulknitz, and Groditz in Saxony have declared states of emergency as the fires threaten nearby communities.

Firefighting efforts are complicated by the fact that the fire is burning on a former military training ground, where unexploded ordnance remains.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Thuringia, the state’s largest forest fire in three decades continues. The blaze near Gosselsdorf has expanded to around 300 hectares, with strong winds hampering containment efforts.

Earlier this week, two people lost their lives in a severe blaze in Spain, also fuelled by extreme heat. Much of Europe remains gripped by a record-breaking heatwave.

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