Wildfires continue to devastate parts of Europe, with thousands of people evacuated and multiple injuries reported as of July 30, 2026.
On the Greek island of Crete, strong winds have intensified fires in the Rethymno region, prompting large-scale firefighting efforts. Around 224 firefighters have been deployed with 53 engines, 11 specialized units, and two aircraft. The Greek Fire Service chief, Theodoros Vagias, expressed condolences for two firefighters who died on Wednesday: 58-year-old Emmanouil Stratidakis and 25-year-old Pantelis Diamantakis.
In Spain, approximately 600 people were evacuated near the border with Portugal due to a fire in the city of Zamora. Meanwhile, a wildfire in Ávila province has burned more than 43,000 hectares (108,000 acres) over the past week, now considered the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history. Fires near Madrid have stopped spreading, allowing thousands of residents to return home.
Portugal has reported five injuries from a fire in the eastern town of Valpaços. In Turkey, hundreds of homes have been evacuated, but authorities say most fires in the region are now under control.
France is battling its largest wildfire since 1949, which has consumed around 42,000 hectares (103,784 acres).
Experts attribute the severity of these fires to climate change, noting that Europe is the fastest warming continent, heating twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
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