Europe Fires: Which Countries Have Been Hit by Wildfires in the Past Week?

What’s happening? Wildfires continue to rage around southern Europe as the continent endures soaring temperatures amid a summer heatwave.

Greece has been one of the worst affected countries, with more than 21,000 people evacuated from the islands of Rhodes and Corfu after the spread of forest fires.

However, a number of other countries are also fighting wildfires amid high temperatures.

Greece

Wildfires continue to rage on the Greek island of Rhodes, where 19,000 people have been evacuated from homes and hotels since the weekend.

Fires burning since 19 July spread to the coastal resorts on the south east of the island.

An estimated 2,000 people left the island by plane on Tuesday.

A firefighting plane makes a water drop as a wildfire burns near the village of Vati, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 25, 2023. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou — A firefighting plane makes a water drop as a wildfire burns near the village of Vati, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Wildfires burn the forests near the village of Vati, just north of the coastal town of Gennadi, in the southern part of the Greek island of Rhodes, on July 25, 2023. Some 30,000 people fled the flames on Rhodes during the weekend, the country's largest-ever wildfire evacuation as the Greek Prime Minister warned that the heat-battered nation was — Wildfires burn the forests near the village of Vati, Rhodes, Greece. (AFP via Getty Images)

Greek firefighters work to extinguish wildfires near the village of Vati, just north of the coastal town of Gennadi, in the southern part of the Greek island of Rhodes, on July 25, 2023. Some 30,000 people fled the flames on Rhodes during the weekend, the country's largest-ever wildfire evacuation as the Greek Prime Minister warned that the heat-battered nation was — Firefighters near the village of Vati in Rhodes on Tuesday. (AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of firefighters, helped by staff from Turkey and Slovakia, have been battling blazes near the villages of Gennadi and Vati on the south east of Rhodes.

About 2,500 people were evacuated because of fires on the island of Corfu on Sunday, 23 July, although many returned to their hotels on Monday.

Wildfires are also burning on the island of Evia, east of Athens. On Tuesday, it was reported that a plane fighting wildfires on Evia crashed with at least two people on board

Italy

There are a number of wildfires burning on the Italian island of Sicily as temperatures reached 47C.

Palermo airport was forced to close for several hours on Tuesday morning after flames reached just outside the perimeter.

Italy has been severely impacted by the heatwave across southern Europe, and 16 of its cities are on red alert, including Palermo and Catania on Sicily.

Elsewhere on the island, 120 families were evacuated from their homes near the seaside resort of Mondello, according to the Ansa news agency.

Palermo airport closed for a time on Tuesday after wildfires reached the perimeter. (Aeroporto di Palermo)

There have been wildfires this week near the city of Messina, and in the San Martino delle Scale area near Palermo, where Ansa said an 88-year-old woman had died in the fires.

On Tuesday 25 July, firefighters battled a wildfire near the seaside resort of Kemer in Turkey.

Turkish officials said 11 aircraft and 22 helicopters were tackling the blaze, which burned 120 hectares of woodland.

A local hospital was evacuated as a precautionary measure and six people were hospitalised because of smoke inhalation

Spain

On 16 July, more than 4,000 people were evacuated on the Spanish island of La Palma after a wildfire.

The blaze burned 2,900 hectares of the island, including 200 hectares of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.

Agents of the Forest Fire Intervention and Reinforcement Teams (EIRIF) of the Government of the Canary Islands intervene in the La Palma fire on July 17, 2023, in La Palma, Canary Islands (Spain). The Forest Fire Intervention and Reinforcement Teams (EIRIF) of the Government of the Canary Islands have been working on the La Palma fire creating fire breaks. JULY 18;2023 Europa Press 07/17/2023 (Europa Press via AP) — Firefighters battling a blaze on the Spanish island of La Palma last week. (AP)

The Spanish islands of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca have reportedly remained on high alert this week for the risk of fires.

Switzerland

On Tuesday 18 July, firefighters in Switzerland battled a forest fire on a mountain in Bitsch in the Valais area near the border with Italy.

General view of a wildfire on the flank of a mountain in Bitsch near Brig, Switzerland, July 18, 2023. Picture taken with a long exposure. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse — The wildfire on the side of a mountain in Bitsch near Brig, Switzerland, on 18 July. (Reuters)

More than 200 people were evacuated as helicopters flew overhead during the night to tackle the blaze.

The fire spread to 100 hectares of forest and was still not completely under control at the weekend.

Portugal

On Tuesday 18 July , Portugal requested help in the management of wildfires from the European Union civil protection mechanism, Finland’s Interior ministry said.

Finland will send 48 rescue workers to help Portugal in the event of wildfires.

While Portugal has escaped the worst of the recent southern Europe heatwave, it is facing widespread drought, with some 90% of the country affected, after an unusually hot and dry April.