Wildfires have engulfed homes and forests across Europe, causing fatalities, forcing thousands to evacuate, and straining emergency services as a persistent heatwave exacerbates drought conditions. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has warned of 'very extreme' wildfire conditions across large swathes of central and eastern Europe.
In Croatia, a wildfire consumed homes in a coastal resort town near Omis, resulting in one death and injuries to 40 people. Approximately 1,200 residents and tourists were evacuated from the area. Firefighters battled the blaze, which had calmed by Friday morning, according to officials.
Greece also faced significant evacuations, with hundreds of tourists and residents compelled to leave the seaside town of Siviri on the Halkidiki peninsula. Fires devoured nearby forests, sending columns of smoke into the sky. Over 300 people were evacuated by sea, assisted by the coastguard and fire brigade, with fishing vessels also contributing to the rescue efforts. More than 140 firefighters, supported by nine aircraft and seven helicopters, were deployed to combat the flames.
In southwestern France, 525 people were evacuated from the village of Luglon following a wildfire in the Landes region. This incident occurred in an area already impacted by substantial blazes earlier in the summer. France has also seen fires scorch forests in regions not typically associated with such events.
Spain is grappling with multiple fires, including one in Huelva that has burned 31,000 hectares and led to the evacuation of 700 people. In Aragon, rescue services moved the remains of three 11th-century kings from the San Juan de la Peña monastery, which was threatened by a wildfire. Historical artifacts and the possessions of an 18th-century Spanish count were also relocated. Firefighting planes in Spain have logged over 8,200 flight hours this year, surpassing the total for 2025.
Germany reported that all 1,800 residents of Gey, in the west of the country, were evacuated due to a wildfire in the nearby Hürtgen forest. Nearly 300 hectares of forest were ablaze, and efforts to contain the fire were complicated by unexploded ordnance from World War II. Germany has recorded a record number of heat-related deaths this year, with an estimated 12,500 fatalities between January 1 and August 2.
Belgium and the Netherlands were bracing for record-breaking temperatures, with forecasts reaching 37C. The Netherlands is experiencing severe drought and water shortages in some areas.
Albania has been battling numerous wildfires in recent weeks, with 11 active fires reported on Friday. Three individuals have been prosecuted in connection with a fire that affected Lura National Park.
Scientists have linked the extreme weather conditions, including record-breaking heat and drought, to climate change. The average high temperature across Western Europe on Friday was forecast to be 31.2C, approximately 8C above the 1961-1990 average. The hot and dry summer is also severely impacting agriculture, with projections of significantly reduced harvests for crops like maize across the European Union.