Mediterranean Battles Relentless Wildfires as Heatwave Pushes Temperatures Beyond 40°C

Firefighters across Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans were engaged in fierce battles against raging wildfires on Tuesday, as yet another heatwave sent temperatures soaring past 40°C (104°F) in parts of Europe.

Scientists warn that climate change is driving hotter, drier summers in the Mediterranean, creating ideal conditions for increasingly intense and frequent wildfires—some of which spin into dangerous “fire whirls.” “We are being cooked alive—this cannot continue,” said Alexandre Favaios, mayor of a fire-hit Portuguese town, as three major blazes burned in his region.

Spain: Fatalities, Mass Evacuations, and Military Support
On the outskirts of Madrid, a man working at a horse stable lost his life as flames reached nearby homes and farms before being contained on Tuesday. Further south, in the coastal town of Tarifa, flames swept through eucalyptus and pine forests, prompting the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents. Helicopters dropped seawater to contain the advancing fire, which loomed above the town’s iconic whitewashed villas.

Spain’s Interior Ministry declared a “pre-emergency,” placing national services on standby, while nearly 1,000 members of the armed forces joined the firefighting effort. In the region of Castile and Leon alone, 32 wildfires were active on Tuesday, with five posing a direct threat to nearby communities. More than 4,300 residents were evacuated from Leon and Zamora provinces.

Portugal: Ten Days of Unrelenting Flames
In northern Portugal, 1,300 firefighters and 14 aircraft battled three major wildfires, one of which in Vila Real has burned for ten consecutive days. Mayor Favaios called for urgent government support, warning of a community “living in panic.” With two Portuguese firefighting planes grounded for repairs, Morocco dispatched two replacements to assist. While the heatwave eased slightly on Tuesday, rain and thunderstorms brought some relief.

Balkans: International Aid Against Spreading Fires
In Albania, 19 wildfires tore through forests and farmland, fanned by strong winds. Assistance came from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the UAE, whose helicopters helped contain the blazes. In neighboring Montenegro, Serbian and Croatian air support helped extinguish a fire near Podgorica, where residents watched their homes burn. “Everything that can be bought will be replaced, but the memories are gone forever,” said local resident Dragana Vukovic.

Greece: Gale-Force Winds Fan Flames
In Greece, powerful winds drove uncontrolled wildfires on the islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia, forcing the evacuation of villages and a hotel. Fires also burned in four areas of the mainland, including near Vonitsa, where 85 firefighters and 10 aircraft worked to shield homes.

Turkey: Blazes Threaten Key Transport Routes
In Turkey’s northwestern province of Canakkale, a massive wildfire burned for a second day after prompting evacuations and closing both Canakkale airport and the Dardanelles Strait. While fires in Ezine and Ayvacik districts were brought under control, blazes near the city center continued to burn, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed.

With temperatures exceeding 44°C (111°F) in parts of Spain, heat alerts blanketing Italy and France, and severe weather warnings across Germany, the region’s firefighting forces face an uphill battle—one that experts warn could become the “new normal” in a warming Mediterranean.