Heatwave pushes temperatures to dangerous levels
Southern Europe is facing a relentless combination of soaring heat and widespread wildfires. In Spain, a quarter of weather stations recorded 40C or higher over the weekend. Cádiz experienced 45.8C, one of the highest readings this summer. The Spanish weather agency Aemet warned on Monday that much of the country faced “very high or extreme fire danger,” urging residents to remain alert.
Fires burn vast areas and claim lives
Preliminary figures from Copernicus show that Spain has already lost 348,000 hectares to wildfires this year, surpassing the record set in 2022. Portugal has reported 216,000 hectares destroyed. At least six people have died, including four in Spain and two in Portugal. Among the victims were firefighters battling blazes in rugged terrain. Spain’s civil protection agency confirmed that more than 31,000 people were forced to evacuate during the past week.
Government response and political divide
On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the deployment of 500 additional soldiers, joining 1,400 already assisting fire crews. He also called for a “state pact” on climate policy, arguing that responses must be based on scientific evidence and not political division. The opposition People’s party dismissed the initiative, saying citizens needed concrete action rather than what they described as a reputational shield for Sánchez.
European countries seek help amid crisis
Across southern Europe, governments have requested support from the EU to cope with the scale of the fires. Portugal activated the EU civil protection mechanism to secure four Canadair firefighting aircraft. Data shows that more than 530,000 hectares have burned across Europe this year—over twice the average of the last two decades.
Ongoing risks despite easing heat
Although temperatures in parts of Spain are expected to ease, authorities warn that fire conditions remain dangerous due to drought. In France, Météo France reported that southern regions remain highly vulnerable, as dry vegetation can ignite rapidly. The smoke from Spanish and Portuguese fires, combined with Saharan dust, has also impacted air quality.
Officials warn of unprecedented fire behavior
Portugal remains under a state of alert, extended through Tuesday. Internal affairs minister Maria Lúcia Amaral faced criticism and calls for resignation after abruptly ending a press conference on Sunday. In Spain, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said fires would not be contained until the heatwave broke. She stressed that the Military Emergencies Unit, established two decades ago, had never faced such extreme conditions.
