Climate change has helped southern Europe’s likelihood of wildfires double since ۱۹۸۱, say researchers.
Published On ۳۰ Jul ۲۰۲۶۳۰ Jul ۲۰۲۶
Southern Europe is “becoming more flammable,” with the number of summer days featuring conditions likely to produce fires having more than doubled since ۱۹۸۱, according to a new report.
The study, published on Thursday in the Scientific Reports journal, said that this “major intensification” of fire-prone weather is driven by climate change. It noted that these effects are especially pronounced in France and Spain, which have been battling some of their largest blazes since records began in recent weeks.
The steep increase in the frequency of fire weather – characterised by searing temperatures, low humidity, dryness, and strong winds – “can only be attributed to global warming,” said study co-author Raul Cordero.
European countries are enduring an above-average season for wildfires, and have already overtaken ۲۰۲۵, which was a record-breaking year for destructive blazes.
Cooling weather and rain helped to calm the worst of the fires in France and Spain on Thursday.
France told ۸۴,۰۰۰ evacuees in the southwest of the country that it was now safe to go home, as France’s largest wildfire since ۱۹۴۹ pulled back.
Spain ended its state of national emergency as wildfires threatening areas near Madrid – the largest Spain has experienced since records began in ۱۹۶۱ – began to come under control.
However, as high temperatures moved eastwards, fires were being fought in Greece, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom.
In Greece, two firefighters died on the island of Crete on Wednesday, the fire department said, as several fires started around the country, fanned by gale-force winds. Another died in a separate fire in the Peloponnese region as the blazes continued into Thursday.
“We have difficult days ahead of us,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
Firefighters in Turkiye have been battling at least ۱۱۵ fires across the country, although at least ۱۱۰ were under control, according to the country’s agriculture minister.
An enormous wildfire has forced evacuations and prompted road closures in eastern England. The fire at Dunwich Heath, a significant biodiversity site, is one of the largest the region has seen.
