Belgium battles its largest wildfire in modern history

Helicopters from the Czech Republic and Swedish water-bombing aircraft were due to arrive under the European Union civil protection mechanism

Hundreds more people were evacuated from villages in western Germany and southwest France, while stranded holidaymakers were picked up from beaches threatened by flames in Greece, and the army rescued historic relics in Spain.

Residents began evacuating from two villages in eastern Belgium on Saturday, August 15, as firefighters, backed by water bombers and helicopters from across Europe, battled one of the biggest wildfires in the country's history.

About 600 residents in nearby municipalities in Waimes and Bütgenbach, in Liège province near the German border, were told to evacuate Saturday as winds shifted and smoke spread through the area.