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As tourist sites and residential areas were being evacuated on Tuesday, hundreds of firemen were battling flames in eastern Germany and the neighbouring Czech Republic.

According to German news agency dpa, a sizable wildfire was rapidly growing in the Brandenburg state of eastern Germany in an area with numerous bone-dry pine trees where firemen must take extra precautions due to the presence of old World War II ordnance that is still buried there.

Due to gusty winds blowing in all directions, the big fire in the Elbe-Elster district has already devastated an area of around 850 hectares and is continuing to grow swiftly.

Four of the seven firefighters who suffered injuries needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation. No locals were hurt, but a pig farm burned destroyed and many animals perished.