Wildfires driven by extreme heat scorched parts of Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans on Tuesday, killing at least four people and forcing thousands to flee homes, tourist resorts, and farmland.
Temperatures in some regions soared above 40°C (104°F), with scientists warning that climate change is making Mediterranean summers hotter, drier, and more prone to devastating blazes.
In Spain, a man died while working at a horse stable near Madrid, and a 61-year-old Hungarian seasonal worker is suspected to have succumbed to heat while picking fruit in Catalonia.
Fires also claimed lives in Albania and Montenegro, where an army tanker accident killed one soldier and seriously injured another. Spain’s meteorology service AEMET reported highs of 44°C (111°F) in some areas, minimal rainfall, and strong winds that heightened the risk.
More than 1,200 firefighters fought 32 wildfires in Spain’s Castile and Leon region alone, while 1,000 armed forces personnel joined firefighting operations nationwide.
A firefighter changes position during operations to battle a wildfire in the village of Parafita, Galicia region, Spain, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
Over 2,000 people were evacuated from Tarifa, on Spain’s southern tip, after flames tore through eucalyptus and pine forests above hillside villas. Rail links between Galicia and Madrid were also suspended due to fires. Police arrested a firefighter in Avila who allegedly started a blaze for financial gain.
In Portugal, nearly 1,300 firefighters backed by 16 aircraft battled three major blazes, one of which in Vila Real has burned for 10 days. Local mayor Alexandre Favaios warned: “It’s been 10 days that our population is in panic, without knowing when the fire will knock on their door.”
Albania continues to face 30 active fires, with forests and farmland devastated. Montenegro, still reeling from multiple blazes, received firefighting aid from Serbia and Croatia and is expecting more assistance from Austria, Slovenia, and Italy under the EU civil protection mechanism.
Residents in Gornja Vrbica helped save a church and cemetery from approaching flames, while others mourned homes and irreplaceable personal belongings.
In Greece, wildfires fanned by gale-force winds forced evacuations on the tourist islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia, as well as in several mainland regions, including the southern Achaia area. Fires near industrial zones and residential areas prompted urgent aerial and ground firefighting efforts.
In Turkey’s northwestern Canakkale province, a large wildfire burned for a second day, prompting the evacuation of hundreds as smoke blanketed surrounding areas.
With much of southern Europe under heat alerts, officials warn that worsening weather could push the crisis further “out of control” in the days ahead.
Firefighters work at a site, as wildfire continues to burn, in Delvina, Albania, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Florion Goga TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Written By Rodney Mbua
