Wildfires, fueled by a prolonged heatwave and fierce winds, have caused widespread destruction across southern Europe, devastating homes, forcing evacuations, and claiming lives.
In Greece, the city of Patras, with a population of around 200,000, faced severe wildfire threats as flames reached its outskirts, destroying olive groves, forests, and over 500 vehicles at a customs yard.
Nearly 10,000 hectares have burned in the Achaia region in just two days, and authorities evacuated a nearby town of 7,700 residents, alongside villages on the islands of Chios and Cephalonia.
Spain reported the tragic loss of a volunteer firefighter in Nogarejas, who succumbed to severe burns while creating firebreaks, marking the sixth wildfire-related death in the country this year.
The nation’s state weather agency, AEMET, warned that nearly all of Spain faces extreme fire risk as the heatwave, peaking at 45C, continues into its tenth day, potentially becoming one of the longest on record.
Authorities suspect arson in several fire outbreaks, with a firefighter arrested in Avila and a woman investigated in Galicia for allegedly starting blazes.
In Portugal, 1,800 firefighters battle five major fires, while Albania faces a “critical week” with 24 wildfires, forcing villagers to flee with livestock.
The EU Science Hub reports that 440,000 hectares have burned in the eurozone in 2025, doubling the yearly average since 2006.