A severe heatwave is gripping southern Europe, pushing temperatures over 40°C (104°F) and triggering numerous wildfires. The heat alerts span Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, with Spain's weather service forecasting highs of up to 44°C (111.2°F) in areas like Seville and Cordoba.
Tragically, a child died of heatstroke in Italy and a man succumbed to burns in Spain. In Tres Cantos, near Madrid, hundreds were evacuated as firefighters battled explosive wildfires driven by high winds. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged caution as nearly 4,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes in Castile and Leon due to over 30 active blazes threatening heritage sites.
Meanwhile, Portugal faced its own firefighting challenges with three large wildfires, as firefighters from Morocco lent support. In Italy, emergency response is strained with red alerts in 16 cities while France braced for its second heatwave.
Greece experienced evacuations on tourist islands due to wildfires sparked by strong winds. Turkey’s Canakkale province also dealt with a major fire, leading to significant evacuations. The ongoing hot weather raises concerns over the impact of climate change on worsening fire seasons across Europe.
