A severe heatwave gripping southern Europe has led to intense wildfires, particularly in western Greece, where the city of Patras faces imminent danger. With soaring temperatures and strong winds contributing to the situation, flames have rapidly spread to the outskirts of the city, forcing evacuations, including that of a children's hospital.
In just two days, nearly 10,000 hectares of land in the Achaia region have burned, leading to the destruction of entire villages, homes, businesses, and over 500 vehicles at a customs yard. Residents reported deserted streets filled with smoke, as high temperatures reached 38°C (100°F). Many people have suffered respiratory issues due to the smoke blankets.
By midweek, authorities ordered evacuations for the nearby town of 7,700, issuing new alerts for two additional villages as blazes threatened coastlines on the islands of Zante and Chios. Greece has requested assistance from EU water bombers to support the more than 4,800 firefighters combatting over 20 active wildfires throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Portugal is facing its own challenges, with 1,800 firefighters actively battling five major fires, including one in Trancoso that reignited due to lightning. In Spain, the heatwave reached its tenth day, resulting in the tragic deaths of a civilian and a volunteer firefighter in a country experiencing extreme fire risks.
Political tensions have also emerged in Spain, where comments from transport minister Oscar Puente regarding the ongoing crisis ignited controversy. He criticized local leadership for vacationing during the disaster, leading to demands for accountability, which he defended.
Across Europe, the toll of wildfires has been staggering. Authorities have reported that 199 wildfires have destroyed nearly 99,000 hectares of land this year—double the amount burned by mid-August in 2022. In Italy, a five-day blaze on Mount Vesuvius is under control, but the country remains under extreme heat warnings across 16 cities.
As climate patterns increasingly intensify due to human-induced factors, meteorologists expect such extreme weather events, including wildfires, to become more frequent.
