Wildfires have spread dangerously close to major southern European capitals — including Madrid, Athens, and Podgorica — as the number of blazes across Europe surged by nearly 50% compared with last year, according to new data.
Firefighters are battling active fires in Spain, Portugal, France, Turkey, Greece, and Montenegro, with temperatures in parts of the region exceeding 40°C. Heat warnings have been issued in multiple countries as thousands have been forced to evacuate.
Mass Evacuations Across Multiple Countries
In Greece, thousands were evacuated from the western Peloponnese region near Patras and from the popular islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia. Officials warned of a “very difficult day” ahead as conditions worsened.
In Spain’s north-west regions of Zamora and León, more than 8,000 residents were evacuated, while in the southern coastal area of Atlanterra, about 2,000 people were forced to leave towns including Zahara de los Atunes.
Authorities across southern Europe have warned of “extreme risk” over the coming week, with most of the Iberian Peninsula, France, the Balkans, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Hungary facing particularly severe fire threats.
Climate Change Intensifying Fire Risk
Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the UK’s National Centre for Atmospheric Science, said prolonged heatwaves are drying out soil and vegetation, creating “tinderbox” conditions. “Climate change is directly fuelling wildfires by making heatwaves more intense and frequent,” he noted.
The European Forest Fire Information System reported that more than 410,000 hectares have burned so far this year — more than double the 189,000 hectares recorded in the same period of 2024. The number of detected fires has risen to about 1,600 from 1,090 last year.
Spain Among the Hardest Hit
Spain is currently battling 14 major fires in 10 regions, including Castile and León, Galicia, and Madrid. Justice minister Félix Bolaños warned that climate change is making fires “increasingly devastating and difficult to fight.”
Two fatalities have been reported: a 35-year-old volunteer firefighter in Castile and León, and another person near Madrid. The flames have damaged Las Médulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ancient Roman mining history.
Energy and environment minister Sara Aagesen described the rising number and intensity of fires as making suppression efforts more complex, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged the public to take extreme caution.
Wider Global Impact
Elsewhere, Portugal is battling multiple fires, and the US Embassy in Montenegro has warned that a blaze near Podgorica could reach the capital. Globally, intense wildfires are also affecting Canada, where over 470 blazes are classified as “out of control,” and California, where thousands have been evacuated in the past week.
July 2025 was the third-warmest July on record globally, with only 2023 and 2024 hotter. Europe continues to warm faster than the global average, increasing the likelihood of more severe wildfire seasons in the future.
