Europe wildfires: Southern Europe faces worst wildfire season in two decades

Europe is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record as the continent warms faster than any other region in the world, scientists and officials have warned.

The continent, historically spared from extreme weather events such as monsoons or hurricanes, is now heating by 0.53°C per decade — more than double the global average since the mid-1990s. This rapid warming has left vast areas vulnerable to devastating forest fires that have destroyed communities, infrastructure and ecosystems.

According to The Economist, nearly 10,000 sq km of land — an area larger than Cyprus — had burned across Europe by 19 August, four times the 20-year average. Heatwaves swept through northern Europe in June, followed by scorching temperatures in the south during July and August.

The Balkans, Cyprus, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain have been worst hit. Eight people have died and tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate. The EU has received a record 17 requests for assistance through its civil protection mechanism.

In Portugal, almost 3% of the country has turned to ash. In Spain, over 4,000 sq km has been destroyed, forcing 30,000 people from their homes. Officials describe the blazes as of such “explosive intensity” that they cannot be controlled by human means.

Experts say the climate crisis has turned the European countryside into combustible material. Yet the spark is overwhelmingly human: only 4% of fires are caused by natural factors, while 57% are linked to arson. Common motives include land clearing for grazing or illegal construction.

Investment in prevention has dropped sharply. In Spain, wildfire prevention budgets have halved since 2009. Specialists are urging tougher penalties for arsonists and a ban on using burned land for farming or building.