Greece Battles Worst Days of Wildfire Season as Blazes Spread Across Europe

Greece is staring down what officials say could be the toughest stretch yet of this year’s wildfire season, with dozens of new blazes erupting in just 24 hours and extreme weather making firefighting a nightmare.

Strong winds, weeks of dryness, and intense heat have created a perfect storm across the mainland and islands, forcing mass evacuations and dramatic rescues.

Kostas Tsingas, head of the fire brigade officers’ association, told ERT News that 82 new fires broke out on Tuesday alone — an “exceptionally high” number. Some of the most dangerous spots right now are near the western city of Patras in the Peloponnese, where two massive fires are burning, as well as in Preveza in the northwest and on the islands of Zakynthos and Chios.

On Chios, smoke was so heavy that the coastguard had to evacuate dozens from the harbour of Limnia. Fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said 13 firefighters have been treated for burns and other injuries. Nearly 5,000 firefighters and 33 aircraft have been deployed to battle the flames across Patras, Chios, Zakynthos, and multiple inland areas.

“Today will be another very difficult day,” Vathrakogiannis warned, noting that wildfire risk remains “very high” across most regions, with temperatures hitting up to 34°C (93°F). Greece has asked fellow EU members for help and applied for four more firefighting aircraft through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The crisis isn’t confined to Greece. Heat alerts are in effect in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, with some areas topping 40°C (104°F). Europe has been battling fires for weeks, and according to the EU climate monitor Copernicus, greenhouse gas emissions from this summer’s blazes are among the highest ever recorded.

In Spain, tragedy struck as a worker at an equestrian centre in Tres Cantos died from injuries sustained in a fire. In Castile and Leon, another man was killed while fighting flames. Around 2,000 people had to be evacuated from hotels and homes near Tarifa’s beaches in Andalusia, while another blaze threatened Las Medulas, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez warned on X:

“We are at extreme risk of forest fires. Please be very cautious.”