Tourists have been forced to flee hotels and villas in Spain as a wildfire encroaches on a popular holiday destination. The blaze in Grazalema, Cádiz, originated in the Sierra de Grazalema mountain area, prompting the evacuation of 109 people as a precautionary measure. Two roads, the A-372 and CA-9123, remain closed due to the fire.
Strong winds of up to 25 mph initially complicated efforts to control the wildfire, according to Andalucia’s regional minister Antonio Sanz. This event occurs as southern Europe grapples with a new heatwave, with some regions predicted to exceed 40C (104F). Spain's AEMET weather agency issued a red heat alert for three eastern regions, anticipating temperatures above 40C.
Meanwhile, France is contending with an "unstoppable" blaze in the Haute-Loire region. More than 10,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from the foothills of the French Pyrenees after a fire consumed at least 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres). The fire spread with alarming speed, coming within 300 meters (984 feet) of homes.
Tour de France organizers advised spectators to avoid the conclusion of the third stage to allow emergency vehicles access. Approximately 700 firefighters are working to contain wildfires across five departments in France, with twice as much land burned this season compared to the same period last year. The European Union has dispatched four waterbombing aircraft from Cyprus and Sweden to aid French firefighters.
French fire service Colonel Eric Belgioino stated that the wildfire season had started "three or more weeks early" and that "climate change is here." He appealed to the public to take precautions to prevent new fires.
In Portugal, emergency services have controlled a wildfire that affected around 13,000 hectares in a northern district, although four regions remain on heat alert. Major fires have also impacted Croatia's Hvar island and an area in Albania, destroying hundreds of hectares.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group noted that record-breaking temperatures in June were "virtually impossible" without climate change. Following a recent surge in temperatures, France, Spain, and Belgium reported thousands of excess deaths.
Greece is also experiencing significant wildfire activity. Blazes in Thessaloniki, in the north of the country, destroyed two factories and forced evacuations. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of negligently starting a fire with his vehicle. Days earlier, a separate wildfire in a nearby area resulted in two fatalities.
Fire department spokesman Brig. Ioannis Artopoios indicated that approximately 85% of wildfires in Greece are caused by negligence, suggesting many could be avoided. Greece frequently faces wildfires during its dry summers, with notable devastating events in 2018 and 2023. The country is enhancing its wildfire monitoring capabilities with a new satellite system.
Despite having been spared the intense heatwaves affecting western Europe, Greece has seen dozens of fires this summer. A major wildfire also broke out west of Athens on Sunday afternoon, with hundreds of firefighters and aircraft deployed to combat the blaze in a pine forest area.