Southern fires in Europe and Turkey subside, however, temperatures escalate
In recent months, wildfires have been a persistent threat across Southern Europe and Turkey. As of early August 2025, Greece is experiencing severe wildfire conditions, with eleven regions still facing very high fire risk.
More than 70,000 hectares of forest, bush, and farmland have been destroyed by fires in Portugal and Spain since the beginning of the year, and Greece is no exception. Nearly 175,000 hectares have been lost in Greece alone, with significant fatalities reported. The wildfires in Greece in 2025 are part of a catastrophic year for the region.
The island of Evia and areas near Athens are particularly affected, amid an ongoing heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F). Crete has also been affected, although some recent fires there are mostly under control. The wildfire risk remains extremely high in the south of the island of Euboea, the east of Crete, and the region around Athens, despite recent rainfall.
Greece's fire service is on high alert due to expected windy conditions in the coming days, a nightmare for firefighters as strong winds drive the flames forward and make extinguishing efforts much more difficult.
Elsewhere in Southern Europe, Italy has been affected by more than 3,700 fires between May and the end of July, particularly on the island of Sicily. The situation remains tense, especially in the south of the country. Several fires also had to be extinguished on Sardinia this week.
Turkey, like Greece, has experienced record high wildfire emissions in 2025, driven by extreme heat and drought conditions similar to those fueling fires across Southern Europe. Wildfires in Turkey have largely been brought under control, according to the state news agency Anadolu, but the situation remains tense, particularly in the rural regions of Thrace and Izmir. At least 14 people have died in the fires in Turkey, including firefighters.
The broader Southern Europe region shows an overall improvement in fire weather conditions according to the EU's Fire Weather Index anomaly forecast, with Southern Europe expected to have normal rainfall and somewhat reduced fire risk in the coming days.
International support has been provided to combat the wildfires. Italian aircraft have been deployed to assist firefighting efforts in Greece, indicating regional coordination due to widespread wildfire concerns.
Despite the ongoing challenges, there is hope for some easing of the heat in the coming days, offering a glimmer of relief for firefighters and communities affected by the wildfires.
- The wildfires in Greece, despite recent rainfall, continue to pose a significant threat, particularly in the south of Euboea, the east of Crete, and the region around Athens, as they are part of a catastrophic year for environmental-science, with general-news about the ongoing disaster frequently appearing.
- As Turkey experiences record high wildfire emissions, the Turkey-Greece border region becomes a separate front in the battle against wildfires, with international cooperation evident as Italian aircraft are deployed to assist Greek firefighting efforts, demonstrating crime-and-justice and societal unity.
- While the broader Southern Europe region shows an overall improvement in fire weather conditions, the concerns over wildfires are not entirely alleviated, as the threat of windy conditions could rekindle the fires, making weather forecasting an integral part of combating the disaster.
