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Germany news: Belgium blaze kept out of Germany for now
Some residents in the Eifel town of Monschau were evacuated as a massive fire in Belgium threatened to cross the border. Meanwhile, shipping shortfalls amid low river water levels could hit the construction industry.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Iv7I Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know A massive wildfire in Belgium has stopped its advance to the German border, firefighters say Reduced cargo shipping on rivers amid low water levels could impact construction supplies, associations say Here is a roundup of top headlines from and about Germany on August 17, 2026:
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08/17/2026 August 17, 2026 Low water levels in rivers could impact construction: industry associations The building sector could face supply shortfalls as ships on German rivers carry less cargo because of falling water levels, construction industry associations say.
"Transport by water is becoming increasingly difficult," Thomas Reimann, the president of an association representing construction contractors in the German state of Hesse, told the DPA news agency.
He said that sand and gravel, which are often shipped in large quantities to concrete plants, are becoming harder to come by and more expensive.
The German Construction Industry Federation (HDB) also said suppliers had already warned that continued low water levels could lead to shortages in some building supplies.
Bitumen, aggregate, natural stone, fuels and mineral construction waste are among the other materials affected by the reduced shipping capacity.
HDB chief executive Tim-Oliver Müller said it was unlikely that construction would be brought to a widespread halt but that the risk of shortages, higher logistics costs and delays was growing as low water levels persist.
08/17/2026 August 17, 2026 Precautionary evacuations in Monschau as Belgium fire rages Several homes in the Eifel town of Monschau were evacuated overnight as a wildfire burning in Belgium's High Fens nature reserve threatened to cross the border.
Around 30 residents from 17 homes were evacuated, with emergency accommodation set up at a nearby school.
However, by Monday morning the fire was said to have stopped its advance toward Germany amid weather conditions that are more favorable to firefighting efforts.
The fire had previously moved to within about 300 meters (984 feet) of the German border.
A spokesman for the local fire brigade said meadows between the fire and homes had been soaked with water for hours to help stop the spread of the flames.
08/17/2026 August 17, 2026 Welcome to our coverage Timothy Jones | Natalie Muller Editor The DW newsroom in Bonn wishes guten Tag to its readers at the start of a new week.
Although the recent (very) hot weather in Germany seems to be over for now, the wildfire risk remains high, as is shown by the massive blaze in neighboring Belgium.
Some streets in the border town of Monschau were evacuated late on Sunday as the flames threatened to enter German territory, but they have fortunately been successfully held back for now.
The persistent dry conditions continued to pose problems to cargo shipping on the Rhine and other rivers, with construction associations saying that supplies could be delayed and are becoming more expensive.
Read on here for more on these and other stories from Europe's largest economy.
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