Deadly heatwave and wildfires grip Europe, shattering records
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From Italy to Turkey, extreme heat is fueling deadly wildfires, mass evacuations, and record-breaking temperatures across Europe.
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Paramedics provide aid to tourists and residents with an ambulance, next to the historical Spanish Steps, in Rome, Italy, July 1, 2025. (AP)
A deadly heatwave gripping Europe claimed the life of a young boy in Italy on Monday, while wildfires spread across multiple countries and temperature records tumbled in France.
In Sardinia, a four-year-old Romanian boy succumbed to heatstroke days after being discovered unconscious in his family’s car. Despite being airlifted to a hospital in Rome, he died from irreversible brain damage, medical officials confirmed to AFP.
As the tragedy unfolded, Italy’s Health Ministry issued red-alert heat warnings for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. The number of cities under the highest alert is expected to climb to 11 on Tuesday and 16 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, about 190 firefighters and military personnel continued battling a blaze on Mount Vesuvius, forcing the closure of the national park to visitors.
UNESCO site damaged in Spain as wildfires sweep southern Europe
Elsewhere, wildfires ravaged a UNESCO World Heritage site in northwestern Spain and prompted evacuations in parts of the Balkans. Spanish crews struggled to contain a blaze that damaged the ancient Roman-era mining complex of Las Médulas, with strong winds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph) complicating efforts.
“We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed,” said Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones, the regional environment minister for Castile and León. Around 700 people were forced from their homes, and four individuals, including two firefighters, sustained minor injuries.
The fire, which began on Sunday, is one of 13 recorded in the region over the past three days, several suspected to be arson. In southern Spain’s coastal town of Tarifa, more than 2,000 people, including hotel guests and beachgoers, were evacuated after a previously subdued fire reignited. Over 100 firefighters are battling the renewed blaze.
Neighbouring Portugal is also facing a critical situation, with crews working to suppress three major wildfires in the country’s central and northern regions.
Mass evacuations across the Balkans and Turkey
In the Balkans, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia all reported multiple active fires. Albanian authorities said that while hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had brought most of the nearly 40 blazes in the past 24 hours under control, more than a dozen remained active. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, almost 34,000 hectares (84,000 acres) have burned nationwide since early July. Police have arrested over 20 individuals on suspicion of deliberately setting fires.
In Montenegro, temperatures reaching 40°C ignited blazes near the capital, where fire crews saved dozens of homes in hard-to-reach areas. In Croatia, 150 firefighters worked through the night to protect residential areas near the port city of Split.
Turkey’s northwestern Canakkale province also saw significant evacuations, with more than 2,000 residents displaced and 77 people treated for smoke inhalation. Over 760 firefighters, supported by aircraft and more than 200 vehicles, were deployed as flames consumed homes and vehicles near the tourist village of Guzelyali. Officials noted that Turkey had just recorded its hottest July in 55 years.
Record-breaking heat in southern France
France also endured unprecedented temperatures, with the southwestern city of Bordeaux reaching 41.6°C, its highest on record. Meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac, and Saint-Girons also posted all-time highs, according to national weather agency Météo-France.
The current heatwave, France’s second of the summer, began on Friday and is expected to persist until at least August 19 or 20. On Monday, 12 French departments were placed under the country’s maximum red-alert warning, with four more expected to join the list on Tuesday. Authorities urged heightened vigilance as the extreme weather shows no immediate signs of abating.
