Greece and Spain battle intense wildfires amid extreme weather

Greece has experienced a severe period of wildfire activity, with Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas reporting more than 400 fires in a 10-day span. According to Tournas, approximately 90% of these incidents were caused by negligence, while 10% were deemed deliberate. Authorities have issued 680 fines and made 274 arrests in connection with the outbreaks.

Firefighting efforts in Greece have faced significant challenges due to extreme weather. Gale-force winds and turbulence, with gusts reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour, have grounded aerial firefighting units in regions such as Rethymno and Boeotia, preventing water drops. In Kouvaras, located 60 kilometers southeast of Athens, nearly 200 firefighters were mobilized to control a blaze that has since been brought under control.

Simultaneously, Spain is battling large wildfires in the south. In the Andalusian province of Huelva, over 600 firefighters and 26 aircraft have been deployed to combat blazes that forced the evacuation of approximately 800 people. Officials in Spain have described the situation as a “long-distance race full of obstacles” due to difficult terrain and shifting winds.