Wildfires in Europe prompt tens of thousands to evacuate
Severe wildfires are spreading across Spain, France, and Italy, prompting mass evacuations and the declaration of a national emergency in the Madrid region. Officials attribute the intensity of these fires to extreme heat waves and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Europe highlight the escalating real-world consequences of climate change on public safety and infrastructure.
Spain has declared a national emergency in the Madrid region. In neighboring France, meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism to ask for help.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HcDb Nearly 125,000 hectares (309,000 acres) have already burnt in Spain this year Advertisement Tens of thousands of people were urged to evacuate on Thursday as forest fires continued to tear through Spain, France and Italy.
The latest fires come as Europe prepares for another heat wave , with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) forecast in some areas.
So far in 2026, wildfires have burnt more land in Europe than the annual average over the past two decades.
Climate change is making extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and the forest fires that ensue, more frequent and more severe.
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