Symbolic imageArmy tanks cut firebreaks as wildfires spread in western Europe
Hundreds of firefighters and army vehicles are battling what North Rhine-Westphalia's government calls the state's largest forest fire. Britain's prime minister called his country a 'powder keg'.
The Hürtgenwald fire broke out on Thursday, 13 August, cause still unclear, and at dawn a day later the brigade evacuated the village of Gey and its roughly 2,000 residents. Ground crews were nearly doubled overnight and two Bundeswehr recovery tanks cut firebreaks around the village, fire service spokesman Peter Berndgen said; the operation is planned into Monday. Agriculture minister Silke Gorißen put the burnt area at 200 to 300 hectares. Second World War munitions in the soil hamper the work.
Britain orders water bombers
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, visiting Stourbridge near Birmingham on Friday, counted 37 fires burning, ordered Canadair water bombers and banned disposable barbecues; Thursday's fire there destroyed 19 houses. Le Monde reports 71.3 percent of England in drought.
Two derailments in 24 hours
Network Rail said the summer's fifth heatwave posed 'exceptional challenges' after carriages of a Southern train left the track near Lewes on Thursday, seriously injuring two, and a Greater Anglia train derailed at Wickford on Friday without injury.
Other opinions
Le Monde links Britain's fires to pending North Sea drilling decisions; a commentary in the conservative FAZ says practical heat protection, not climate targets, has been neglected.