On Friday afternoon, a large forest fire erupted again in the Harz district, specifically at Königsberg near Wernigerode, Saxony-Anhalt, writes Tag24.
Initially, a 300-meter stretch caught fire around 2 p.m., with smoke visible for kilometers. Overnight, several smaller fires merged into a large front, which continues to be fought from both the air and the ground.
Still battling the fire
Firefighters have been distributing thousands of liters of water per minute along key routes, but some teams had to retreat as the fire jumped protective barriers.
Around 150 firefighters from the Harz district and Lower Saxony, along with four firefighting planes and six helicopters, are actively battling the blaze.
The cause of the fire near the Brocken remains unknown, and it is not yet under control. The risk of wildfires is extremely high in Saxony-Anhalt, with another wildfire currently raging in Oranienbaum-Wörlitz, Wittenberg district.
About 500 people, including tourists and hikers, were evacuated from the Brocken peak on Friday and transported to safety.
Has caused delays in public transportation
The Harz Narrow Gauge Railway has suspended services between Drei Annen Hohne and the Brocken due to the fire, causing significant delays in train traffic.
All events in the Brocken area have been canceled, and the region is closed off. Residents are urged to keep roads near Schierke and Brocken clear for emergency services.
This is not the first fire in the area. Two years ago, a state of emergency was declared due to a fire, and similar incidents have occurred frequently, most recently in May.
