Southern Europe Wildfires Rage Across Multiple Countries, Leaving Dead and Thousands Displaced

Published Time: 08-13-2025, 14:30

Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday, claiming at least three lives and displacing thousands of residents in Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Albania. Extreme heat, prolonged droughts, and multiple fire outbreaks have stretched firefighting resources to their limits, prompting international aid efforts across the Mediterranean region.

Greece Struggles as Flames Threaten Patras and Surrounding Areas

Near the port city of Patras, firefighters battled towering flames that swept through pine forests, olive groves, and residential areas. Several vehicles were destroyed in a nearby impound lot, and apartment buildings faced imminent danger.

“Today is another very difficult day with the level of fire risk remaining very high across many parts of the country,” said Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis.

Water-dropping planes and helicopters assisted local firefighters, while residents joined efforts with buckets and branches to control smaller fires. Exhausted crews, particularly on the island of Chios, were reported sleeping roadside after night-long shifts.

Aircraft and personnel rotated among the western Greek mainland, Patras, and Zakynthos, while Athens also sent support to neighboring Albania to help combat dozens of fires.

Albania Faces Evacuations and Explosions

In Albania, an 80-year-old man died in a blaze south of Tirana, and four villages near a former army ammunition depot were evacuated. In the southern Korca district, buried World War II-era artillery shells exploded as flames reached rural areas. Authorities reported dozens of homes destroyed in the central region of the country.

Deaths and Displacement in Spain

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences after a volunteer firefighter died fighting blazes in the Castile and León region north of Madrid. Thousands of residents were displaced by evacuations, with emergency centers filled to capacity.

“The wildfire situation remains serious, and taking extra precautions is essential,” Sánchez wrote on social media. “Thank you to all those working tirelessly to fight the flames.”

Residents in rural areas attempted to protect homes by spraying water on walls and surrounding vegetation. The Spanish government raised its national emergency response level to provide additional support to regional authorities managing evacuations and highway closures.

Turkey’s Ongoing Wildfire Crisis

A forestry worker in southern Turkey died Wednesday in an accident involving a fire truck while responding to a wildfire. Four others were injured in the same incident. Turkey has faced continuous wildfires since late June, resulting in 18 fatalities, including rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died in July.

France Faces High Temperatures Amid Fire Risk

In southern France, officials warned of extreme temperatures up to 42 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) for a third consecutive day. Authorities issued weather alerts, giving local governments discretion to cancel public events and close high-risk areas. The country is still recovering from recent large-scale wildfires in its southern regions.

Causes of Fires: Lightning, Farming Practices, and Possible Arson

Authorities across southern Europe have cited several factors behind the wildfires, including summer lightning storms, careless farming practices, and poorly maintained power lines.

In North Macedonia, authorities indicated possible arson connected to rogue development, as firefighters struggled to contain a blaze in a nature reserve near Skopje.

The European Union has mobilized aid, sending ground crews and water-dropping aircraft to assist countries affected by the fires. Much of the focus has been on Montenegro, where major wildfires continue in rugged terrain near the capital, Podgorica.

“Natural disasters know no borders,” said Ljuban Tmusic, head of Montenegro’s civil protection agency. “In Montenegro the resources we have … are clearly not enough.”

Regional Impact and International Response

The wildfires have highlighted the strain on emergency services across southern Europe, with countries cooperating to share resources and expertise. Evacuations, property destruction, and fatalities underscore the urgent need for increased preventive measures and readiness for extreme weather events intensified by climate change.