Southern Europe is reeling under a punishing heatwave that has fuelled deadly wildfires, claimed lives, and forced mass evacuations across Spain, Greece, Portugal, and parts of the Balkans.
Scientists warn that human-driven climate change is intensifying and prolonging such extreme summer conditions.
Spain, one of the hardest-hit countries, on Thursday recorded its third wildfire-related death this week. Authorities said the latest fatality occurred in the northwestern Castile and Leon region, where a person died while battling flames. Earlier deaths were reported in the same region and near Madrid.
The fires have already scorched nearly 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) in Spain this year — more than double the area burned during the same period in 2024. Around 6,000 residents from 26 localities in Castile and Leon have been evacuated. Responding to Spain’s appeal for help, France has pledged two water-bombing aircraft to reinforce firefighting teams battling multiple fronts.
In Greece, firefighters are gradually gaining ground against a major blaze near the western port city of Patras, home to 250,000 people. While the fire remains active in the eastern outskirts, gentler winds have aided efforts by nearly 600 ground personnel and close to 30 water-bombing aircraft. Additional outbreaks continue to challenge emergency services on the islands of Zante and Chios, and near Preveza, with more than 10,000 hectares already burned, according to the EU’s Copernicus satellite programme.
Police in Patras have detained three men, aged 19 to 27, on suspicion of starting separate fires earlier this week.
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Portugal is also facing severe wildfire activity, with more than 1,900 firefighters tackling four major blazes. A fire in Trancoso has already consumed an estimated 14,000 hectares since Saturday, while another front in the mountainous Arganil area mobilised over 800 firefighters.
“The flames were enormous… it was frightening,” one resident told local television, describing the night-time inferno.
Elsewhere, the Balkans have begun to see some relief from the intense heatwave, though Albania and Montenegro continue to battle stubborn fires. Water-bombing aircraft and easing conditions have helped Montenegro gain control, while Albanian firefighters report more homes lost overnight.
Meanwhile, Italy remains under extreme heat warnings, with Rome and Venice among 16 cities placed on red alert. Florence is forecast to hit 39°C on the eve of a major holiday weekend.
The ongoing crisis underscores the growing threat posed by climate change, as countries across southern Europe grapple with overlapping emergencies of fire, heat, and displacement.