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Italy to France, wildfires sweep Europe as climate change serves ultimatum
A wildfire rages across a forested area near Cavuslar village, in Karabuk district, northwest Turkey, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Ridvan Bostanci/IHA via AP)
Fast-moving wildfires, fanned by strong winds and scorching summer heat, are sweeping across parts of Greece, France, Spain, and Turkey, killing at least three people and forcing thousands to flee.
In Greece, flames tore across scrub-covered hillsides in the Keratea region, about 25 miles southeast of Athens, on Friday, edging dangerously close to residential areas. Nearly 200 firefighters, aided by water-dropping planes and helicopters, battled the blaze as thick black smoke billowed over the landscape.
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On the tourist island of Milos, two Vietnamese visitors died after being swept into the sea by strong winds, the Greek Coastguard confirmed.
France and Spain hit hard
In France, wildfires in the Aude region left an elderly woman dead in her home and injured two others, one critically with severe burns. The fire erupted Tuesday afternoon, quickly spreading through dry terrain.
Across the border in Spain, 15mph winds drove flames through the popular Torre de la Peña beach resort in Cadiz. Bars, restaurants, hotels, and campsites between La Peña and Casas de Porros were evacuated as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
Turkey declares disaster zones
Turkey is facing its own crisis, with wildfires threatening its fourth-largest city and prompting the evacuation of more than 3,500 people. Two people have died, and dozens of severe fires have been breaking out daily since late June.
Overnight blazes in the forested mountains around Bursa turned the night sky an ominous red. The flames forced the closure of the Bursa–Ankara highway and prompted evacuations from villages northeast of the city. The government has declared the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik disaster zones.
A separate fire near Saricaeli village in Canakkale province forced the evacuation of a university campus and an elderly care home. The Dardanelles Strait, a key shipping route, was temporarily closed due to heavy smoke and poor visibility.
Region on edge
Bulgaria and Montenegro are also battling blazes as high temperatures, parched landscapes, and strong winds fuel a dangerous wildfire season across southern Europe.
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