Fires as heatwave in Europe pushes temperatures above 40°C

Major heatwaves across southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40°C (104°F) in countries including Italy, Spain, and Greece, as local authorities issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires.

Experts link the rising frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe’s southern region.

Severe heat was recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal before the weekend, with locals and tourists alike taking shelter from the sweltering conditions.

Two-thirds of Portugal were on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to top 42°C (107°F) in Lisbon.

In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40°C (104°F), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities said.

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The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday, June 30, 2025.

Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country’s 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek.

About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the education ministry said.

In Turkey, more than 50,000 people were evacuated as Turkish firefighters battled a string of wildfires, with the vast majority of evacuations from the western Izmir province, the AFAD disaster agency said.

A Lancet Public Health study published last year highlighted the increasing risk of heat-related deaths because of climate change.

The study predicted that heat-related deaths could more than quadruple by midcentury under current climate policies, AFP reported.

While more people die from cold than heat, the study stressed that rising temperatures will offset the benefits of milder winters, leading to a significant net increase in heat-related mortality.

The Star