Southern Europe Battles Wildfires, Spain Declares State of Emergency
Southern European countries continue to battle large-scale forest fires, which are spreading amidst record heat and prolonged drought. The most difficult situation is observed in Spain, France, and Italy, Euronews reports .
In Spain, authorities have declared a nationwide state of emergency due to fires threatening settlements near Madrid and in the province of Avila. According to official data, on the morning of July 24, the fire west of the capital remained uncontrolled, although emergency services managed to partially contain its spread.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated from dangerous areas. Meanwhile, forecasters predict that temperatures in some regions of the country could reach 44 degrees Celsius.
In France, the government has requested assistance from the European Union, activating the EU civil protection mechanism. President Emmanuel Macron stated that the situation remains extremely tense, especially in the Gironde department in the southwest of the country, where the fire has already destroyed more than 8.7 thousand hectares of forest.
To assist French firefighters, two Canadair aircraft from Croatia, two Air Tractor aircraft from Portugal, and two heavy Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be dispatched to the country.
Macron also expressed condolences to the families of two firefighters who died while battling the blaze in a suburb of Bordeaux.
Another large fire continues in the Var department in southeastern France, where the flames have already covered about 2.7 thousand hectares. Around 800 firefighters, supported by air assets, are battling it.
In Italy, about 6,000 emergency service personnel, including firefighters, foresters, and civil protection rescuers, have been mobilized to extinguish fires, mainly in Sicily. The most difficult situation is in the areas of Casaboli, Bivona, Alimena, San Cataldo, Galati Mamertino, in the Madonie Regional Natural Park, and near Syracuse.
Earlier this week, rescuer Alessandro Marchi died while battling a fire in San Cataldo. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni honored his memory.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, since the beginning of 2026, fires in European Union countries have already destroyed 254,388 hectares of forests and other natural areas.
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