A deadly heatwave sweeping across the Mediterranean has claimed at least three lives and forced thousands to flee their homes as wildfires rage in Spain, Greece, and other countries. In Spain, a Romanian man in his 50s died after suffering 98% burns while trying to rescue horses from a burning stable near Madrid on Monday night. The fire in Tres Cantos, near Madrid, has devoured 1,000 hectares of land and was still not under control by Tuesday evening, with strong winds expected to worsen conditions.
In Italy, a four-year-old boy died in Rome after suffering irreversible brain damage caused by heatstroke, having been found unconscious in his family's car in Sardinia. In Montenegro, one soldier died and another was seriously injured when their water tanker overturned while fighting wildfires north of the capital, Podgorica. Scientists have warned that the heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas, is creating perfect conditions for wildfires and serves as a reminder of the climate emergency.
In Spain, more than 3,700 people were evacuated from 16 municipalities in the north-western region of Castilla y León, including areas near the Unesco-listed Roman-era mining site at Les Médulas, which was damaged by fire. In Galicia, the largest wildfire of the year burned through 3,000 hectares in Ourense province, while in Tarifa, 2,000 people were evacuated. The interior ministry declared a 'pre-emergency phase' to coordinate resources. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged caution, stating, 'We’re at extreme risk of forest fires.'
In Greece, authorities requested EU help as gale-force winds fueled fires across the western Peloponnese, forcing thousands to evacuate. Fires also broke out on the tourist islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia, where hotels were temporarily closed and holidaymakers relocated. The mayor of Zakynthos, Giorgos Stasinopoulos, said, 'We need a lot more air support, it’s vital.' Officials described the outbreak of 63 blazes as 'suspiciously high' and dispatched teams to investigate possible arson.
In Portugal, firefighters battled three large wildfires in the centre and north, while in Albania, hundreds of firefighters subdued most of nearly 40 fires that flared up in the past 24 hours. The heatwave continues to pose extreme risks across the region.
