A relentless heatwave has swept across Europe, pushing temperatures to a scorching 43°C (109.4°F) and fueling devastating wildfires that have forced evacuations and threatened cultural landmarks, underscoring the intensifying effects of climate change.
In northwestern Spain, firefighters are battling a fierce wildfire near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Las Médulas, an ancient Roman gold-mining area known for its striking red landscape. The blaze, worsened by high temperatures and winds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph), has created dangerous "fire whirls" in the region’s confined valleys. Regional Environment Minister Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones described the firefighting efforts as facing “many difficulties” due to the extreme conditions. Four people, including two firefighters, have sustained minor injuries, and around 700 residents remain displaced, with authorities vowing not to allow returns until safety is assured. The extent of damage to Las Médulas will be assessed once the fire is contained.
In Portugal, nearly 700 firefighters are tackling a blaze that erupted on Saturday in Trancoso, 350 km (200 miles) northeast of Lisbon. Meanwhile, France’s weather authority, Météo-France, issued red alerts—the highest heat warning—for 12 departments, as temperatures soared from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean. Agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka warned, “This isn’t normal summer heat—it’s a nightmare.” The red alert, introduced after a deadly 2003 heatwave, has been issued only eight times since 2004.
Further east, wildfires are burning near the borders of Greece and Türkiye, with one fire near Strumyani, Bulgaria, reigniting after three weeks. Bulgaria, where temperatures are expected to exceed 40°C (104°F), is under maximum fire danger alerts, with nearly 200 fires reported. While most have been contained, the situation remains “very challenging,” according to Alexander Dzhartov, head of Bulgaria’s fire safety unit.
Hungary recorded a new national high of 39.9°C (104°F) in the southeast on Sunday, surpassing a 1948 record, while Budapest hit a city record of 38.7°C (101.6°F). In Albania, wildfires destroyed several homes, with firefighters and soldiers struggling to contain over a dozen active blazes after nearly 40 flared up in 24 hours. In Croatia, around 150 firefighters worked through the night to protect homes near the port city of Split from an encroaching fire.
As Europe grapples with these extreme conditions, experts warn that such events are becoming more frequent and severe, driven by the ongoing climate crisis.
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