Firefighters battle wildfire tearing through Belgian nature reserve

Smoke could be seen rising above the nature reserve on Friday Firefighters battled a wildfire tearing through Belgium's largest nature reserve on Saturday, with the blaze described as the country's worst in recent history. Residents were ordered to evacuate two nearby villages as the flames consumed a third of the High Fens, with local officials warning the fire - which had been burning since Friday - could reach homes. Water-bombing aircraft and helicopters were sent from across Europe to aid the firefighters working in the park near its eastern border with Germany. It was among a number of wildfires burning across Europe on Saturday, including a forest fire which caused hundreds of residents to leave their home in south-western France. Local officials in Belgium said the blaze remained out of control as of Saturday afternoon.

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