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Fire brigade in action (symbol image)
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte/ dpa
A major fire has apparently broken out on the east side of the Harz Mountains.
According to the fire brigade, there is a fire in an area of 3.5 hectares in the national park.
Because of the slope, the site can only be reached on foot or via the Brockenbahn, said a fire department spokesman from Wernigerode.
The cause of the fire is still unclear.
Narrow-gauge railway helps the fire brigade
The operation of the Harz narrow-gauge railway has been discontinued, said the fire brigade spokesman.
Firefighters, material and fire-fighting water would be brought as close as possible to the scene of the emergency by train.
The Deutsche Bahn website states that a fire brigade operation will result in operational restrictions.
The Harz narrow-gauge railway normally leads to the Brocken, at 1141 meters the highest mountain in the Harz mountains.
It is unclear how many people are still on the Brocken.
ptz/dpa