France, Spain and Greece continued battling major wildfires on Thursday as extreme heat, dry vegetation and strong winds drove blazes across southern Europe, forcing mass evacuations and causing deaths.
In France, authorities arrested two people on suspicion of arson after a massive wildfire near Bordeaux burned about 42,000 hectares. Around 220,000 residents and holidaymakers were evacuated, though 60,000 have since returned. Officials warned the danger was not over despite improving weather conditions.
In Greece, wildfires on Crete and in the Peloponnese claimed the lives of three firefighters and forced hundreds of residents and tourists to flee by land and sea. High winds hampered firefighting efforts, preventing aircraft from operating.
“The wind is unbelievable, you can’t stand sometimes. The flames were huge, it was really scary,” resident Chrissa Gioukaki told reporters at Agia Galini on Crete.
Agios Vasilios Mayor Yiannis Tartarakis described the situation as dire, saying: “The situation is desperate. The tragic part is that we lost two fellow firefighters.”
Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, is experiencing an above-average wildfire season, with fires already surpassing the area burned during the record 2025 season.
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In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the wildfire emergency as “extreme”, with at least 10 active fires.
“We’re in a critical, highly complex situation,” Sanchez said, citing high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds that continue to fuel the blazes.
New fires broke out in the northwestern provinces of Zamora and Leon, while the blaze in Castellon continued to spread after burning more than 9,300 hectares. More than 1,300 people have been evacuated from affected areas as firefighters race to contain the flames.
