Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires across Portugal, Spain, and Greece, with authorities issuing warnings about toxic smoke in major tourist destinations. Residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, have been urged to remain indoors and keep windows and doors shut due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire.
Massive Blaze in Portugal
In central Portugal's Vouzela area, more than 1,200 firefighters, backed by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, are working to contain a blaze that broke out on Thursday, according to the Civil Protection authority. The wildfire has burned across an estimated 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) as of Sunday, based on data from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency. Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles as reinforcements to Portugal on Friday, while three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain were also dispatched, the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid said. By Sunday afternoon, the fire appeared to be abating somewhat, with Portuguese media quoting officials as saying it no longer had major active fronts but that some hot spots remained.
Wildfire Near Athens
A major wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon west of the Greek capital, Athens. The fire department reported that 210 firefighters, supported by volunteers, specialised teams, and 29 aircraft including water-dropping planes and helicopters, were deployed to battle the blaze in the Mandra area, which is burning through pine forest. Authorities were racing to contain the fire before nightfall, when aircraft can no longer perform firefighting operations.
Fire in Spain's Girona Region
In Spain, a wildfire burning since Friday in the north-eastern Girona region has scorched nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres), according to the EFE news agency. Catalan Fire Service head of operations Eduard Martinez said the blaze had a perimeter of 40 kilometres (25 miles) and firefighters may not be able to bring it under control on Sunday, EFE reported.
Recycling Plant Fire in Thessaloniki
In Greece, a fast-moving blaze at a recycling plant broke out Saturday evening near the Oraiokastro suburb of Thessaloniki, triggering evacuation alerts for three suburbs and a facility housing 157 people with disabilities. Strong winds fanned the flames, and around 160 firefighters were deployed to battle the fire through the night until water-dropping aircraft could take off at dawn, the fire department said. Oraiokastro mayor Pandelis Tsakiris told Greece's state broadcaster ERT that several businesses and homes were damaged, but a clearer picture would emerge after authorities conduct a full evaluation. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze through negligence by generating sparks with his vehicle that set vegetation near the road alight, the fire department said. He was due to appear before a prosecutor on Sunday.
Cause of Wildfires
Fire department spokesman Ioannis Artopoios, speaking on ERT TV on Sunday, said that about 85% of wildfires in Greece were caused by negligence, including sparks from agricultural machinery, discarded cigarettes, and outdoor barbecues. "This means most of them could have been avoided," he said. This fire came days after another wildfire in a nearby area killed a 12-year-old boy and his father.
Context and Technology
Greece suffers frequent, often devastating wildfires during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a blaze east of Athens killed more than 100 people, while a massive fire in 2023, which tore through a remote nature reserve in north-eastern Greece, was the largest wildfire recorded in the EU. The country has increasingly turned to technology to combat the threat of fires, exacerbated by climate change. It is integrating an array of four satellites, launched into low orbit in May, that will monitor for wildfires. So far this summer, Greece has been spared the heatwaves that have scorched much of western Europe in recent weeks, but it has still seen dozens of blazes across the mainland and islands.
