A severe heatwave has engulfed parts of Europe, pushing temperatures to alarming highs of up to 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The extreme weather conditions have led to devastating wildfires, forcing evacuations and wreaking havoc across the continent. Firefighters in northwestern Spain are battling to contain a wildfire that has damaged an ancient Roman mining site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and forced hundreds of residents to flee.
Regional Environment Minister Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones described the firefighting effort as facing “many difficulties” due to high temperatures and strong winds of up to 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour). The extreme heat and winds have caused “fire whirls,” which occur when temperatures reach around 40 degrees Celsius in a confined valley and then suddenly enter a more open and oxygenated area. Suarez-Quinones emphasized the importance of ensuring community safety, stating, “We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed.” Approximately 700 people remain displaced, and four individuals, including two firefighters, have suffered minor injuries.
The fire has damaged the Roman gold-mining area of Las Medulas, famed for its striking red landscape. Authorities will assess the damage once the fire is fully under control. Neighboring Portugal is also battling a significant blaze in the northern part of the country, with nearly 700 firefighters working to contain the fire that started on Saturday in Trancoso.
France has issued a red alert, its highest heat warning, for 12 departments, anticipating exceptional heat stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka starkly described the situation, saying, “Don’t be fooled. This isn’t normal, ‘it’s summer.’ It’s not normal. It’s a nightmare.” The red alert in France has been issued only eight times since 2004.
Other European countries are also experiencing severe wildfires. In Bulgaria, temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, with nearly 200 fires reported. Alexander Dzhartov, head of Bulgaria’s national fire safety unit, described the situation as “very challenging.” Hungary has recorded a new national high of 39.9 degrees Celsius, breaking a record set in 1948. Wildfires have destroyed several homes in Albania, and about 150 firefighters are defending homes from a blaze near the port city of Split in Croatia.