According to the district, the major fire on the Brocken in the Harz Mountains has continued to spread. "After evaluating the last thermal images from the reconnaissance helicopter, the fire has spread to 160 hectares," said a spokesman for the Harz district on Tuesday afternoon. Most recently, it was said that the fire was under control over an area of ​​150 hectares.

The fire has now spread underground without being detected, the spokesman said. An open flame formation is difficult to detect. The spokesman said the statement that the fire was under control was maintained. A total of seven fire-fighting helicopters and two fire-fighting aircraft are currently fighting the flames. The site is considered poorly accessible.

The fire was discovered on Saturday on the so-called Goetheweg near the Goethebahnhof vantage point. The cause of the fire is still unclear. The Goetheweg to the Brocken is one of the most frequented hiking trails in the Harz National Park. The district has declared a disaster.