A deadly heat wave is sweeping across southern Europe, bringing dangerous temperatures, sweeping wildfires, and evacuation orders for both residents and tourists during one of the most popular vacation months of the year.
Red alerts for heat and wildfire risks have so far been issued for parts of Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, according to the BBC.
Active fires are still burning across the southern stretch of the continent, with officials in Spain, Portugal, and Greece all continuing to battle multiple large-scale blazes. Authorities have successfully brought some wildfires in Turkey, Albania, and Croatia largely under control as of Tuesday, August 12, the Associated Press reports.
Here’s a look at how the wildfires in Europe are affecting travel and daily life in several regions of the continent. For more tips on traveling during heat waves, read our guides on how to beat the heat in Europe this summer and how to pack for hot and humid destinations.
Spain and Portugal
Temperatures in southern Spain and Portugal have reached up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AEMET, Spain’s meteorological agency.
Towns including Cadiz, Cordoba, and Seville were under Extreme Risk heat level warnings on August 12, Spain’s hottest day of the summer so far.
On Tuesday, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers battled wildfires across numerous regions of Spain, including in Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, and Galicia, per the Associated Press. In those areas, beaches were closed, and thousands of residents and visitors were evacuated from homes and hotels. A portion of evacuees were allowed back to their homes and hotels later on Tuesday as some of the fires were brought under control.
Portugal battled three large wildfires on Tuesday, with authorities bringing the largest conflagration in the center of the country under control by the end of the day.
New blazes are continuing to develop throughout the countryside. However, air travel appeared to be operating normally throughout Spain and Portugal, with no major airports closed or significant flight disruptions, per FlightAware.
Storms are predicted to provide a brief respite from the searing temperatures on Wednesday, August 13. However, the heat wave is expected to resume on Thursday and continue through Monday, August 18, according to information from AEMET.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents and visitors to exercise caution and follow local authorities’ recommendations.
Greece
There were at least seven major fires raging across the Greek islands on August 12, the AP reports. Severe blazes engulfed areas near the city of Patras and on the islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia.
Late on Tuesday, active fires were still developing across the island of Chios and the western side of the Greek mainland near the cities of Preveza and Ilias, according to Greece’s civil protection agency. Officials continued to advise residents and tourists in certain areas to evacuate or relocate. Despite the active blazes, air travel to and from the country’s main airports appeared to be operating normally.
