Firefighters across Spain are battling devastating wildfires, fuelled the current severe heatwave pushing temperatures above forty degrees. Authorities report that Mediterranean countries are experiencing hotter and drier summers, leading to increased wildfire occurrences each year.

In Tarifa over two thousand residents were evacuated as flames spread from nearby eucalyptus and pine forests. The regional government reported that five of the active fires pose a direct threat to populations, forcing evacuations in Leon province and Zamora. Spain’s Interior Ministry declared a ‘pre-emergency’ status, mobilising national services as nearly one thousand military personnel joined over one thousand firefighters battling nearly thirty-two wildfires across the region.

Meanwhile, wildfires in Portugal have left towns in peril as firefighters continue to combat blazes that have persisted for ten days, exacerbated by extremely hot conditions. The situation has improved slightly, with rain and thunderstorms expected, but authorities are seeking additional government support. Helicopters from multiple countries have joined the fight against wildfires in Albania and Montenegro, where several areas were engulfed in flames this week, causing one soldier fatal injuries.

In Greece, evacuations have been ordered for several villages due to fires fanned by strong winds, while the UK has issued heat health warnings across England due to escalating temperatures. The extreme weather continues to wreak havoc as countries deal with the growing threat of wildfires amidst rising heat levels, leading scientists to express alarm over the impact of global warming in the Mediterranean region.