Spain is battling 14 major wildfires, claiming two lives and forcing around 6,000 people to evacuate across seven regions, including the hardest-hit northwest provinces of Ourense, Zamora, and León. Authorities suspect some fires were deliberately set and investigations are ongoing. An intense heatwave complicates firefighting efforts, with temperatures soaring up to 45°C, worsening the dry conditions.
Tragic losses include a man in his 50s who died from burns in Tres Cantos near Madrid and a volunteer firefighter who died in León. Nearby Zamora has two critically injured people in intensive care. The fires have scorched thousands of hectares, contributing to a record wildfire season for Spain with nearly 100,000 hectares burned so far in 2025—more than double last year’s figure.
Portugal is also battling six large blazes, with over 1,500 emergency personnel actively fighting fires near its border with Spain, notably around Trancoso. The crisis underscores the growing threat climate change poses with more frequent, severe heatwaves and wildfires across Europe.
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