Heat wave sparks wildfires across Germany
Germany is battling massive wildfires as an extreme heatwave and severe drought fuel dangerous fire outbreaks across multiple regions, forcing evacuations and emergency responses nationwide.
Firefighters have been deployed to several major wildfire zones across the country. In the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate, a fire broke out in an area containing unexploded wartime ammunition, triggering multiple explosions and creating a highly dangerous situation. Authorities ordered the partial evacuation of the town of Traisen.
A large-scale firefighting operation is also underway in Gohrischheide, eastern Germany, where crews are struggling to contain a renewed forest fire. Additional wildfires have been reported in the eastern states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt, and other drought-hit regions, as dry vegetation continues to accelerate the spread of flames.
Germany’s weather service reported the hottest night ever recorded in the country. In Kubschütz, Saxony, nighttime temperatures remained at an astonishing 29.4°C, breaking the previous record of 27.2°C set in 2003. The relentless heat has prevented overnight cooling, worsening health risks for residents.
The ongoing heatwave has already become one of Germany’s most extreme weather events. In Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, temperatures soared to 41.5°C, setting a new all-time national heat record. Scientists warn that climate change is making such prolonged heatwaves more frequent and more intense, increasing the risk of deadly wildfires, infrastructure failures, and public health emergencies across Europe.