Spain Faces “Extreme Risk” of New Wildfires as South Europe continues to reel under Heatwaves

 

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has warned that the country is at “extreme risk” of fresh wildfires, with firefighters currently battling 14 major blazes. In a post on X, Sánchez said Friday’s conditions were expected to be “very tough again,” sharing a graphic from Spain’s national weather agency, Aemet, showing extreme fire danger across the north and west.

Temperatures are forecast to soar to 40°C along Spain’s north coast, following days of devastation in which more than 1,500 sq km (579 sq miles) have burned and seven people have lost their lives. The ongoing heatwave, which has scorched parts of southeastern Europe, has fuelled fires in Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, and across the Balkans.

In Galicia, multiple fires have merged into a massive inferno, forcing the closure of highways and rail links. Avincis, Europe’s largest aerial emergency services provider, reported a 50% rise in firefighting flight hours in Spain and Portugal compared to last year. Aemet predicts the heatwave will persist until Monday, with temperatures climbing as high as 44°C in some regions, alongside moderate winds.

While wildfires are common in southern Europe during summer, experts warn their severity is being amplified by heatwaves driven by human-induced climate change. EU figures reveal that around 6,290 sq km (2,429 sq miles) of land has burned across the bloc so far this year, with Spain accounting for roughly a quarter of the total. Authorities have arrested 10 people for suspected arson since June, including two men in Castile and León this week. Even accidental acts, such as discarding cigarette stubs or leaving glass bottles, can trigger devastating blazes and carry criminal penalties in Spain.

Spain is the fifth European country to seek international assistance in combating wildfires this season. In Greece, firefighters are still working to contain a blaze on the island of Chios, three days after it began. Large parts of the island remain without power, and some areas are facing water shortages, with repair crews warning it may take over a week to restore infrastructure.

Greece’s Civil Protection agency has issued a very high fire risk warning for Attica, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, Central and Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the North and South Aegean. Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania have also activated the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency aid.