By Unknown author
Southern Europe remains in crisis as wildfires, intensified by an ongoing heatwave, continue to wreak havoc across several countries. Spain recorded its third wildfire-related death this week, while Greece made progress in containing a major blaze near its third-largest city.
Spanish authorities confirmed the death of a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter on Thursday. He had sustained critical burns while battling a wildfire in the northwestern Castile and Leon region. His death brings the nationwide toll to three this week, following earlier fatalities in the same region and near Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences via social media, urging citizens to take extra precautions amid the worsening wildfire conditions.
“The wildfire situation remains serious, and taking extra precautions is essential. Thank you, once again, to all those working tirelessly to fight the flames,” Sánchez posted.
The intense summer heat—worsened by human-driven climate change, according to scientists—has fanned wildfires across Southern Europe, stretching firefighting resources in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the Balkans. Spain has been particularly hard hit, with more than 157,000 hectares (388,000 acres) destroyed so far in 2025—more than triple the area burned during the same period in 2024.
Thousands have been evacuated across Spain, particularly in Castile and Leon. Spanish authorities reported the arrest of four individuals suspected of deliberately starting forest fires, bringing the total number of suspects this season to 30.
In a show of solidarity, France has announced the deployment of two water-bombing aircraft to Spain. The Spanish government has also sought additional aerial support from the European Union to assist exhausted firefighting crews, especially in the northwestern regions.
Greece, also facing an overwhelming number of fires, reported progress in beating back a large blaze threatening the western port city of Patras. According to fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, while scattered flames remained on the city’s eastern outskirts, the situation had improved. However, the fire was still considered active. At least 15 firefighters were reported to have been hospitalized or treated for burns, smoke inhalation, or exhaustion.
Around 600 ground personnel and nearly 30 firefighting aircraft were deployed at dawn across multiple hotspots, with easing winds aiding firefighting efforts. Other significant fires broke out on the tourist island of Zante, the Aegean island of Chios, and near the town of Preveza.
Citing satellite data from the EU’s Copernicus programme, the National Observatory of Athens reported that wildfires around Patras and elsewhere had scorched more than 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres).
Greek police have detained three men, aged between 19 and 27, suspected of starting fires in the Patras region earlier in the week.
Portugal and the Balkans Under Siege
In Portugal, more than 1,900 firefighters are battling four major fires. One of the most destructive, in the Trancoso area, has already burned through an estimated 14,000 hectares (34,595 acres) since Saturday. A separate blaze that began Wednesday in the mountainous Arganil region has drawn over 800 firefighters.
“The flames were enormous… it was frightening,” said a woman from the village of Mourisia in an interview with Sic Noticias, as she looked out at smoke-covered hillsides.
The Balkans, meanwhile, have endured the worst of a fierce heatwave that intensified the region’s typical fire season. Thousands were evacuated, and homes were destroyed. Greece has sent aid to neighbouring Albania, where wildfires continue to burn. Albanian officials reported the death of an 80-year-old man in a blaze south of Tirana on Wednesday.
Evacuations have occurred in four villages near a former military ammunition depot in central Albania. Explosions from buried World War II-era artillery shells were reported in the Korca district, near the Greek border. Dozens of homes have been destroyed in the region.
Turkiye’s Wildfire Struggles Continue
In Turkiye, a forestry worker was killed Wednesday in an accident involving a fire truck while responding to a wildfire in the country’s southern region. Four others were injured. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry confirmed the fatality and noted the country has been battling severe wildfires since late June.
A total of 18 people have died in Turkiye due to wildfires this season, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed in July.
EU Responds with Emergency Aid
The European Union’s civil protection agency confirmed it had deployed planes and helicopters to multiple countries this week, including Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania. The agency said it has activated emergency assistance 16 times already during this wildfire season—matching the total number of activations for the entirety of 2024.
The EU noted that member states have faced “a high number of catastrophic wildfires” in 2025, further highlighting the growing impact of climate change on Europe’s summer fire seasons.
As fires continue to rage and temperatures remain high, officials across the region are warning citizens to remain alert and adhere to evacuation orders, while praising the tireless efforts of firefighters risking their lives to contain the flames.
