Southern Europe Braces as Death Toll Soars Amid Unabated Wildfires

Wildfires Persist Across Southern Europe

In Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey

Firefighting teams are still engaged in battling blazes that have raged for weeks in these countries. Hot temperatures and dry conditions are forecast to remain, complicating containment efforts.

• Spain: Multiple high‑pressure fronts maintain scorching conditions.
• Portugal: Fire crews confront vast brush and limited water resources.
• Greece: The dry, windy climate fuels rapid fire spread.
• Turkey: Persistent dryness hampers suppression tactics.

Wildfires Persist Across Southern Europe amid Heatwave

Despite ongoing efforts to quell the blazes, southern Europe remains engulfed in major wildfires as the region experiences an intense heatwave, raising concerns for the upcoming weekend.

Spain’s Current Situation

• Operating under the guidance of Virginia Barcones, Director General of Emergency Services, Spain reports 14 large-scale fires currently under control.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledges the looming danger, noting on social media that “today will again be a highly challenging day with an extreme risk of new fires.”
• The nation has suffered three fatalities to date, including two volunteer firefighters who lost their lives fighting the flames.
• Sánchez extended his condolences, specifically supporting the family of the second volunteer firefighter who succumbed to severe burns at a hospital in León last Thursday.

Broader Implications

The heatwave’s persistence threatens to overwhelm firefighting resources across the continent, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated response and enhanced preventative measures.

Community Mobilizes to Confront Wildfire in Larouco, Spain

Local residents and volunteers are joining forces to fight a rapidly spreading wildfire in Larouco, a town situated in northwestern Spain. The blaze, which began on August 13, 2025, has shown alarming intensity under the current heatwave conditions.

Weather Situation & Government Alert

• The national meteorological agency AEMET has issued an extreme fire risk warning across most of the country.
• Temperatures have surged above 40°C on multiple days this month, and the heatwave is projected to continue through Monday.

Impact on Infrastructure

• Numerous high‑speed highways in the Galicia region have been shut down due to the wildfire.
• Train services on the high‑speed rail link between Galicia and Madrid remain suspended.

Scale of the Fires

The European Union’s Forest Fire Information System reports that wildfire activity across Spain has already consumed approximately 158,000 hectares. This area is comparable to the size of metropolitan London.

First death from fires in Portugal

Portugal Faces Alarming Firestorm

Numbers and Status

On Friday, close to 4,000 firefighters were scattered across the country, tackling a series of seven major wildfires. Authorities extended the state of alert until Sunday, citing expected high temperatures that could persist through the weekend.

Regional Impact

• Guarda District: Firefighters struggled due to a shortage of supplies, hindering containment efforts. The flames have crossed into the neighboring municipalities of Pinhel and Trancoso.
• Alverca da Beira: The blaze reached an abandoned house, sparking fears for the safety of surrounding residences. As a result, dozens of community members rushed to the scene, armed with their own means to fight the fire.

Community Mobilization

Local residents, many equipped with water hoses and improvised tools, stepped in to complement official fire‑fighting squads. Their swift response highlights the crucial role of civic engagement during emergency crises.

Future Outlook

With high temperatures projected to continue over the weekend, authorities urge public vigilance. The ongoing efforts underscore the need for strengthened fire‑control resources and strategic planning to prevent further damage.

Portugal Faces Deadly Wildfires in Summer 2025

The latest satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies reveals a blazing fire front in the Trancoso region of Portugal, captured on Tuesday, 12 August 2025. The photo, released by the Associated Press under the heading “AP/Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies,” shows an active “fire line” cutting across the forested landscape.

First Fatality in Portuguese Forest Fires

On Saturday, authorities recovered the charred remains of the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão. He is the first person to lose his life in the country’s summer wildfire outbreak.

European Union Emergency Support Activated

• On Friday, Portugal formally requested assistance from the EU’s civil protection mechanism, a coordinated firefighting force available to member states in crisis.
• Spain, making its first-ever appeal for EU aid, received two Canadair water‑bomber aircraft a day earlier to help combat its own fires.
• Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also sought EU firefighting help over the past week.
• Since the start of the year, the EU firefighting force has been mobilised repeatedly—its activation count now equals the total number of incidents recorded during last year’s fire season.

These developments underscore the intensity of the current wildfire crisis across Southern Europe, prompting a cross‑border response and the urgent deployment of international firefighting resources.

New evacuation orders issued in Greece

Wildfire Escalates on Greece’s Chios Island, Prompting Further Evacuations

On Friday, a persistent wildfire on the island of Chios intensified for a fifth consecutive day, forcing additional overnight evacuations. Firefighters have deployed two aircraft capable of dropping water and two helicopters to assist in containment efforts across the northern part of the island. A temporary lull in high‑speed winds, according to local officials, has helped the crew gain ground early in the day.

Regional Fire‑Risk Assessment

• Fire teams have been on alert across southern Greece, especially in zones surrounding Athens.
• Previous large blazes in the western regions of the country this week have heightened concerns.
• Adverse meteorological conditions—such as dry air and strong winds—have amplified the potential for flare‑ups.

Continued Vigilance Ahead

Authorities emphasize that the situation remains fluid and that all measures are in place to protect residents and natural resources. Ongoing monitoring will determine the next steps in the fight against the blaze.

A Patch of Fright as Wildfire Rages in Patras, Greece

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, a woman braved the blaze that left the western Greek city of Patras in distress, pulling a cat from the flaming environs as the inferno threatened a nearby residence.

Firefighting Efforts in Turkey Keep Momentum

Across several Turkish provinces, emergency crews persisted in battling multiple fire fronts, most of which appear to have been largely quelled by Saturday.

Climate Change: A Catalyst for Europe’s Burning Crises

Scientists attribute the increasing prevalence and severity of heat waves and droughts in Europe to climate change, thereby escalating the risk of wildfires.

• Primary Driver: Emissions from fossil fuel combustion, such as coal and gas, elevate concentrations of heat-trapping gases.
• Europe’s Rapid Warmth: According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the continent has warmed at twice the global rate since the 1980s.
• Record-Breaking 2024: The year registered the highest temperatures worldwide and in Europe, alongside a spike in “heat stress” days.