Europe is grappling with the severe aftermath of a record-breaking heatwave, as deadly forest fires, destructive storms, and scorching temperatures continue to impact the continent. In Greece, a significant wildfire in the north claimed two lives before being contained.
The blaze, which had threatened the village of Liti near Thessaloniki, saw a wall of flames stretching five kilometers. Firefighters and volunteers worked to extinguish the fire, with dramatic images showing charred trees and a burned-out car. One man was killed, a woman was injured, and a second body was discovered by firefighters. Greece, accustomed to battling forest fires during its dry summers, faces another challenge as it heads into its peak tourist season.
Meanwhile, violent storms followed the heatwave in other parts of Europe, resulting in fatalities in Romania and Austria. In Romania, storms caused widespread flooding in Bucharest, submerging basements, homes, and metro stations. Trees were torn down, blocking roads and damaging vehicles. One person died in Ganeasa, just outside the capital, after a falling tree struck their car. Emergency services in Bucharest reported nearly 2,000 calls for assistance.
Austria also experienced severe weather, with storms triggering landslides. In Upper Austria, a man died on Tuesday after being hit by a falling branch while driving. The region had previously recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Portugal is now bracing for extreme heat, with parts of the country placed on red alert. Forecasters warn temperatures could reach 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, particularly in the Lisbon and Setubal regions, and extending to Leiria and Coimbra later in the week. The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) noted that the exceptional heat is expected to persist for at least a week, with coastal regions experiencing higher temperatures due to the lack of sea breeze and nighttime temperatures remaining elevated.
The preceding heatwave shattered temperature records across large swathes of Europe. All-time records were broken in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. France recorded its highest-ever average temperatures and nighttime temperatures, while Switzerland also experienced severe weather, including thunderstorms and flooding.
Spain has reported a devastating toll from the recent heatwave, with officials stating that over 1,000 people died from heat-related causes in June alone. This figure is more than double the number recorded in June of the previous year, which was then the hottest June on record. The first six months of 2026 have been the hottest in Spain since records began, with temperatures averaging 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal. National weather agency Aemet noted that seven of the warmest first semesters have occurred in the last decade.