Authorities in western Germany ordered the evacuation of over 2,000 people from the village of Gey early Friday as a rapidly spreading wildfire threatened homes and infrastructure in the region.
More than 2,000 residents of Gey, a village in western Germany near the Belgian border, were instructed to leave their homes around 4:00 a.m. on Friday following the advance of an uncontrolled wildfire. Local authorities directed evacuees to a temporary assistance centre established at a primary school in a neighbouring village, with residents advised to bring only essential items, identification documents, and medications.
According to Mayor Stephan Cranen, the evacuation proceeded without incident, though the situation remained precarious. The flames had advanced to within 300 metres of the village, regional broadcaster WDR reported. One of the active wildfires spread overnight towards a former munitions facility in the nearby town of Dueren, presenting an additional hazard to rescue operations.
The area surrounding the munitions depot contains unexploded World War Two ammunition scattered across the hilly terrain, which prevented complete clearance after the war. Occasional detonations were heard during the fire, according to firefighters. Approximately 300 hectares of forest were actively burning. German army tanks assisted firefighting efforts by creating access routes through difficult terrain, while Mona Neubaur, deputy premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, acknowledged the potential for severe community impact.
The incident reflects broader challenges facing Germany, where dry conditions and elevated forest fire risks have affected large areas across the country.
