- Spain has entered its third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius in some areas.
- The La Mierla wildfire in Guadalajara has burned over 35,000 hectares, making it the country's second-largest wildfire this century.
- In France, a wildfire near Saumos has forced the evacuation of over 18,800 people, including tourists from campsites and holiday homes.
- The Gironde prefecture reported that the fire situation remains unfavourable and is not yet stabilised.
- Copernicus reported a record burned area for the EU this year, with more than 123,000 hectares burned in Spain alone.
- A marine heatwave is affecting 80% of the Mediterranean Sea's surface area, with daily temperatures reaching extreme levels.
- Norway has experienced an intense hot spell since mid-July, with ten weather stations setting local temperature records.
- In Greece, temperatures exceeded 43 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, with thermal imaging in Athens showing surface temperatures approaching 60 degrees Celsius.
Firefighters are currently battling major wildfires in France and Spain, exacerbated by extreme heatwaves that have pushed temperatures above 44°C. In France, a wildfire near Saumos has burned over 3,700 hectares in just 24 hours, prompting the evacuation of more than 18,800 people, including tourists.13
Marc Vermeulen, the regional fire service chief, stated, "The fire is highly erratic and gaining very significant force. One of the main fronts is very close to a semi-urban area. We are defending house by house."
In Spain, the La Mierla wildfire has consumed over 35,000 hectares, marking it as the second-largest wildfire this century. Extreme conditions have led to over 123,000 hectares burned in Spain this year, a staggering four times the area recorded during the same period in 2025.25
The Mediterranean region is facing unprecedented challenges, with a marine heatwave affecting 80% of its surface area, leading to daily temperatures reaching extreme levels. According to the Mediterranean Monitoring System, some anomalies are 5°C hotter than the average from 1991 to 2020.6
The severity of fires in the EU has broken records for this time of year, with data showing that about twice as much land has burned by July 22 compared to the last two decades. Victor Resco de Dios, a professor of forestry engineering, warned, “Although it’s difficult to predict how far things might go, we will soon be unable to rule out Dantesque scenarios like those seen in California or Australia.”
As the situation escalates, authorities remain on high alert, with parts of Portugal facing 'Very High' or 'Maximum' wildfire risk.
“In Spain, the La Mierla wildfire has burned over 35,000 hectares, becoming the country's second-largest this century. Meanwhile, a marine heatwave is affecting 80% of the Mediterranean Sea's surface, with daily temperatures reaching 'extreme' levels and anomalies 5°C above average.”
The Guardian
