Southern Europe Battles Devastating Wildfires Amid Record-Breaking Heatwaves

Relentless heat and raging wildfires continue to ravage southern Europe, with Spain and Portugal facing extreme temperatures and devastating fires. In Spain, one-quarter of weather stations recorded temperatures above 40°C, with Cádiz hitting a scorching 45.8°C. The Spanish weather agency, Aemet, warned of "very high or extreme fire danger" across most of the country.

Tragically, a fourth person was killed in Spain after a firefighting truck overturned, while in Portugal, another firefighter died, bringing the national death toll to two. The Spanish government has deployed an additional 500 soldiers to assist the 1,400 troops already battling the flames.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for a "state pact" to tackle the climate emergency, urging unity beyond partisan struggles. However, the opposition criticized the move as insufficient, with one spokesperson stating, "State pacts don’t put out the flames."

Extreme heat, exacerbated by carbon pollution, has fueled wildfires across southern Europe, with over 530,000 hectares burned this year—more than double the average. Portugal has activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism, requesting four Canadair water-bombing planes.

The heatwave is expected to subside in Spain after Monday, but the wildfire risk remains high in several regions. In France, temperatures are falling, but drought conditions persist, making vegetation highly susceptible to fire.

Spain’s defence minister, Margarita Robles, stated that the fires are unlikely to be controlled until the heatwave ends, noting the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change. "We’re seeing a fire situation that’s never been seen before," she said.