German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit the wildfire-hit municipality of Hürtgenwald in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday, two days after firefighters brought the blaze under control.
The town lies near the Belgian border, about 12 kilometres away as the crow flies. It is also roughly 30 kilometres from the large fire currently burning in the High Fens in Belgium.
Merz is making his first public appearance since beginning his summer holiday on 29 July. His absence during the recent heatwave had drawn criticism.
During the visit, the chancellor is expected to thank emergency workers and receive an update on the next steps.
According to regional authorities, the wildfire in Hürtgenwald was the largest ever recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia. The fire burned for a week before firefighters succeeded in extinguishing it on Thursday.
