German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the municipality of Hürtgenwald in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday, where a large forest fire had broken out about a week earlier. The fire has been extinguished since Thursday. At the site, Merz thanked the firefighters, the German army and other emergency services for their cooperation during the response. Die Zeit ↗
The chancellor described the fire in the Eifel region as a manifestation of climate change. According to available information, he stressed that Germany must expect similar events to occur more frequently. At the same time, he criticized climate change deniers and said the state must strengthen its preparedness for large-scale damage related to climatic conditions.
During the visit, Merz also faced loud expressions of disapproval. He responded to the criticism by saying that he would not let it influence him. His trip to Hürtgenwald was his first public appearance after his summer holiday and was presented mainly as a gesture of thanks to the responding units. n-tv ↗
In the coming period, talks are to be held on how to better protect Germany from major damage events linked to the climate. The topic is thus shifting from the response itself to the question of prevention, the equipment of emergency services and the state’s ability to respond to more frequent forest fires.
Merz Warned of Climate Change After Fire in Hürtgenwald
On Record
👤
Friedrich Merz
Kancelár Nemecka
17.06.2026
„Tag der Hoffnung"
Hodnotenie vývoja na summite G7 vo vzťahu k Ukrajine
👤
Friedrich Merz
Kancelár Nemecka
20.03.2026
„Čo sa dnes stalo v Rade, je neprijateľné a v budúcnosti sa tomu zabráni. Je to akt vážnej nelojality."
Tlačová konferencia po summite EÚ, reakcia na Orbánovo veto
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (4)
Besuch in Hürtgenwald: Merz entgegnet Buhrufen: Lasse mich davon nicht beeindrucken
n-tv
| 17:32 22.08.
Friedrich Merz: Bundeskanzler kritisiert »Leugner des Klimawandels« in Hürtgenwald
Die Zeit
| 17:26 22.08.
Nach Waldbrand: Merz in Waldbrandgebiet: „Das ist Klimawandel“
Tagesspiegel
| 17:03 22.08.
Nach Waldbrand: Merz in Waldbrandgebiet: «Das ist Klimawandel»
Die Zeit
| 17:01 22.08.
🔥 You might also like
German Politics
Germany searches for suspect in power grid sabotage
German police continue search for 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg suspected of sabotage attacks on energy infrastructure objects in Germany...
World
What Europe writes about: Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih killed 16, Trump claims Hormuz is American, Canada pays 50% tariffs
Russian drones hit shopping center in Kryvyi Rih twice; 16 dead. Trump claims Hormuz is American, Canada pays 50% tariffs. Overview from 37 countries.
World Politics
Germany opened an anti-drone center against hybrid attacks. On the same day, Russian intelligence agent received fifteen months already served
Stuttgart court gave one-time agent fifteen months already served and acquitted two. Germany opened anti-drone center same day.
© HotInfo
Geographic locations
From our newsroom original
All →
Poland to investigate offers of paid meetings with Nawrocki
Pavel criticizes Fico's statements on NATO's Article 5
Merz to discuss CDU's election setback with the Union faction
What Slovakia Is Writing About: Fico Tells Czech President He Prefers Peace. Taraba Calls SNS Nominee Kuffa a "Flawed Person"
Man doused Hungarian PM with wine at a wine harvest festival. Since Tuesday, it is the third such incident — earlier a television broadcast called for a sniper
In China, a woman's skeleton with a cut-off nose was found. If the interpretation is confirmed, it is the first physical evidence of a punishment known from chronicles
Dutch Court Convicted a Municipality Over Rubber Granulate on Playing Fields. It Pollutes the Surroundings, but Measurements Show It Doesn't Endanger Players' Health
Spanish services are monitoring a march to liberate Ceuta. It is called for Sunday 20 September, three days before Morocco's elections
