Deadly Wildfires Engulf Europe, Killing at Least Four

Dozens of wildfires raging across southern Europe, fueled by high temperatures, droughts, and dry fuels, have killed at least three people in Spain and one in Portugal.

Newsweek has reached out to Portugal’s National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority and the European Forest Fire Information System for comment via email on Saturday.

Why It Matters

The fires come amid record-high temperatures in the region, with dry landscapes and materials further fueling fires from Greece to Portugal, marking one of the region’s worst fire seasons on record. The European Union (EU) has sent firefighting planes to help battle the blazes, with five countries having requested assistance.

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate from their homes across the region, and around 100 have been injured across countries.

What To Know

Spain has been hit particularly hard, with more than 14 major fires, General Director of Emergency Services Virginia Barcones told the Associated Press. Wildfires have disrupted mass transit, forcing highway closures and suspending high-speed rail service. So far this year, more than 390,000 acres have burned in the country, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.

Earlier this week, Spain confirmed a third death from the wildfires, a volunteer firefighter who sustained severe burns. Spain has arrested several people on suspicion of arson.

In neighboring Portugal, nearly 4,000 firefighters have battled at least seven major blazes, according to the AP. The country is currently under a state of alert until late Sunday night.

The former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, Carlos Damaso, “was killed in a fire he was fighting in his parish,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the president of Portugal, wrote in Portuguese in a press release Friday.

What People Are Saying

AccuWeather wrote in an August 14 X post: “Europe is facing its worst wildfire season on record as deadly wildfires rage across France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Albania. More than 2.4 million acres have burned across Europe.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote in a Saturday X post: “All my encouragement and strength to the four injured members of @UMEgob in the Yeres fire, in León, and to their families. I thank them for their effort and dedication and hope they recover soon.”

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) wrote in a Friday X post: “This Friday, very high or extreme fire danger in most of the country. The danger will remain at very high or extreme levels during the weekend and Monday, days when the heatwave affecting us since the beginning of the month continues.”

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction wrote in an X post: “Europe is experiencing a devastating wildfire season – wreaking havoc on landscapes, cities, and communities.”

What Happens Next?

High temperatures are expected to continue throughout the weekend into Monday.