Two dead as heatwave fuels wildfires across Southern Europe
4 Min Read
Southern Europe battles deadly wildfires as extreme heat, drought, and strong winds trigger evacuations and threaten homes, heritage sites, and livelihoods.
-
From left, Greek, Cyprus, and European Union flags are visible through the smoke from wildfire in Omodos village, Cyprus, during a massive wildfire on the southern side of the east Mediterranean island nation's Troodos mountain range, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP)
Two men lost their lives, and thousands were forced to evacuate as wildfires, driven by an intense heatwave, swept through southern Europe on Tuesday.
Heat warnings were issued across Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, with temperatures forecast to exceed 40°C in many areas.
Experts link the surge in extreme heat and wildfires to climate change. “Thanks to climate change, we now live in a significantly warmer world,” said Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the University of Reading’s meteorology department, adding that “many still underestimate the danger.”
In Spain, a worker at an equestrian center in Tres Cantos, a wealthy suburb north of Madrid, died from severe burns as winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour spread flames rapidly. Spanish media reported he became trapped while attempting to save horses.
Montenegro suffered a fatality when a soldier died and another was seriously injured after their water tanker overturned while combating fires north of the capital Podgorica. On Monday, a child died of heatstroke in Italy.
The Tres Cantos fire forced hundreds of residents to flee, damaging homes and agricultural facilities, according to Carlos Novillo, Madrid’s regional environment chief. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged caution on social media: “We are at extreme risk of forest fires. Please be very cautious.”
Around 2,000 evacuated amid wildfires near Southern Spain beaches
In southern Spain’s Andalusia region, around 2,000 people evacuated hotels and homes near Tarifa, close to where a similar fire caused evacuations earlier this month. “We managed to save the residential area at the very last second,” said Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s interior minister.
In northwest Spain’s Castile and Leon, dozens of fires were reported, including one threatening Las Medulas, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for ancient Roman gold mines. Regional leader Alfonso Fernandez Manueco pledged swift restoration efforts after the fire is contained.
Portugal deployed over 700 firefighters battling three major fires near Trancoso. Church bells rang in the nearby hamlet of Mendo Gordo to signal the danger as thick smoke columns were visible.
The EU climate monitor Copernicus reported that smoke and greenhouse gas emissions from wildfires since the Northern Hemisphere’s summer began are among the highest ever recorded.
France shatters temperature records amid relentless heatwave
France broke temperature records at four weather stations on Monday, with three-quarters of the country under heat alerts on Tuesday, and temperatures expected to surpass 40°C in the Rhone Valley, which banned outdoor public events. Meteo-France forecasts the heatwave could last 12 to 14 days.
“It’s already too hot,” said Alain Bichot, 34, sitting at a café terrace in Dijon. “I would rather just go to the office. At least there is air conditioning there.”
Eleven Italian cities, including Rome, Milan, and Florence, were placed on red alert due to the heat.
Montenegro’s firefighting efforts continued near Podgorica despite the fatal tanker accident. Residents were advised to remain indoors due to heavy smoke.
Wildfires also raged in Albania, and Greece requested EU assistance to combat over 100 fires exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions, evacuating 20 villages in the Achaia region. Athens requested four water bombers from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
According to European Drought Observatory data analyzed by AFP, 52 percent of Europe and the Mediterranean basin experienced drought in July for the fourth consecutive month, the highest July drought levels on record since 2012, surpassing the 2012-2024 average by 21 percent.
