Wildfires have intensified across southern Europe, leading to at least three deaths and the displacement of thousands. The fires have particularly affected Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Albania. On Wednesday, firefighters in Greece battled to protect the perimeter of Patras, the country's third-largest city, as flames engulfed homes and agricultural areas.
Firefighters faced significant challenges as they worked to contain the blazes, which tore through olive groves and pine forests. Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis, a spokesman for the Greek Fire Service, noted, "Today is another very difficult day with the level of fire risk remaining very high across many parts of the country." Residents joined the firefighting efforts, using cut branches and buckets of water to combat the flames.
Firefighting resources have been stretched thin across the region due to multiple outbreaks following weeks of extreme heat. Aircraft have been deployed to assist in battling the fires on the western Greek mainland, in the Patras area, and on the island of Zakynthos.
In Albania, an 80-year-old man died in a fire south of the capital, Tirana. Authorities evacuated residents from four villages near a former army ammunition depot. Explosions from buried World War II-era artillery shells were reported in the Korca district, which is near the Greek border.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences after a firefighting volunteer died in the Castile and León region, where thousands have been forced to evacuate. The Spanish government has raised its national emergency response level to provide additional support for regional authorities managing evacuations and highway closures.
A forestry worker was also killed in Turkey while responding to a wildfire. The Forestry Ministry reported that the worker died in an accident involving a fire truck, which also injured four others. Turkey has been grappling with severe wildfires since late June, resulting in a total of 18 fatalities, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died in July.
As the situation worsens, authorities across Europe have cited various causes for the wildfires, including careless farming practices, poorly maintained power lines, and summer lightning storms. In North Macedonia, officials have indicated that some fires may have been started by arsonists.
The European Union has mobilized aid to assist fire-affected countries, including non-member states, deploying ground crews and water-dropping aircraft. Much of the recent focus has been on Montenegro, where major wildfires continue to burn in rugged areas near the capital, Podgorica. Ljuban Tmusic, head of Montenegro’s civil protection agency, stated, "Natural disasters know no borders."
As the fires rage on, the situation remains critical, with authorities urging residents to remain vigilant and take precautions.