Firefighters are working to contain a forest fire in the southeastern Netherlands after the blaze spread overnight to cover around 100 hectares (247 acres), authorities said on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
The wildfire is the latest in a series of blazes across western Europe following deadly heatwaves that have dried out riverbeds and vegetation, AFP<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Scientists have linked the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to human-induced climate change.<\/p>\n The fire broke out around midday on Monday in a nature reserve near the village of Oostrum in Limburg province, close to the German border.<\/p>\n By early Tuesday, the blaze had expanded to about 100 hectares and remained out of control, according to provincial authorities.<\/p>\n A regional safety spokesperson told the ANP news agency that constantly shifting winds had accelerated the fire\u2019s spread and made firefighting efforts more difficult.<\/p>\n Around 300 emergency responders worked through the night to contain the blaze, while firefighting helicopters were scheduled to resume operations on Tuesday morning, authorities said.<\/p>\n Officials evacuated a nearby campsite as a precaution, and rail services passing through the affected area were suspended.<\/p>\n Provincial authorities said the exact cause of the fire had not yet been determined, but warned that dry conditions allow fires to spread rapidly through nature reserves.<\/p>\n Much of Europe is experiencing severe drought, with dried-up rivers, water restrictions and destructive wildfires<\/a> following an unprecedented heatwave in June.<\/p>\n Scientists from World Weather Attribution warned last month that human-driven climate change has accelerated moisture loss from soil, lakes and rivers, increasing the likelihood of extreme drought conditions.<\/p>\n