Barcelona (AFP) – Recent forest fires have devastated thousands of hectares in France, Spain and Portugal, while a new rise in temperatures threatens to complicate extinction efforts. The flames hit a Europe that is still recovering from another intense heat wave in 2026, linked by experts to climate change, and which left thousands of additional deaths in several countries.
First modification: 07/05/2026 - 13:45 Last modification: 07/05/2026 - 15:01
Hundreds of firefighters are fighting this Sunday against forest fires that have reduced thousands of hectares to ashes in France, Spain, Portugal amid a rise in temperatures when the continent is still recovering from a heat wave.
The latest forest fires have already devastated more than 17,000 hectares in the three countries, which could reach 40°C again on Sunday.
The intense heat wave that suffocated Europe at the end of June caused thousands of additional deaths in some countries such as France.
Faced with the arrival of more extreme weather phenomena, the French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, recalled that the summer forest fires have started a month earlier than usual.
In Spain, a forest fire near the Catalan tourist Costa Brava (northeast) has burned 2,200 hectares.
In a statement, the firefighters claim to have "stabilized" the fire in the Bisbal del Ampurdán, but they are concerned about the right flank, and fear a "complicated day" due to high temperatures and a "very discontinuous perimeter, with several islands of vegetation that have not burned inside the affected area" which could cause new outbreaks.
About 97% of the affected area is located within the protected natural space of Las Gavarras, according to forestry agents.
Authorities believe it was caused by "negligence."
The president of the region of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, confirmed that one person has been arrested.
In France, nearly 600 firefighters have been mobilized to contain a forest fire that has devastated more than 1,000 hectares on the side of a mountain in Trevillach, about 36 kilometers east of Perpignan.
Roads in the region have been closed and authorities have ordered mayors to open emergency shelters for people forced to leave their homes.
Another 300 French firefighters fought another forest fire in a mountainous area of the Drôme department, in the southeast of the country.
At least 13,000 hectares burned
In Portugal, firefighters have managed to control around 80% of the perimeter of a forest fire that has devastated at least 13,000 hectares of vegetation in the north of the country in three days, civil protection reported.
"The fire has traveled 35 km between its starting point and its current location, and there are still some hot spots, but most are under control," José Costa, duty officer in command of the National Civil Protection Authority, told AFP.
Spain and Italy sent reinforcements and air tankers after Portugal requested help to fight the flames that have left at least nine people injured, including two civilians in serious condition.
Several regions in Portugal, Spain and southern France on Sunday intensified alerts for extreme heat that meteorologists say could last until next weekend.
Western Europe has already suffered two heat waves this year, in May and June.
The latest was the most intense ever recorded in Europe with temperatures that would have been "virtually impossible" in the month of June without climate change, according to climatologists at World Weather Attribution.
Two-thirds of Europe's inhabitants, or about 410 million people, experienced temperatures above 35ºC at least once during the heat wave between June 15 and 30, according to an AFP analysis.
Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary recorded absolute temperature records, while the United Kingdom and Switzerland experienced their warmest June, as did France.
"The season is going to be long"
Following this heat wave, France reported more than 2,000 additional deaths than usual in just one week, while Spain and Belgium each recorded more than 1,000.
Authorities in several countries fear that more problems are ahead this summer.
"Climate change is already here, we are living its consequences and it is only the beginning of July," said Colonel Eric Belgioino, of the French fire department.
Belgioino calls on people near the Pyrenees to take extreme precautions to avoid fires.
"The season is going to be long for firefighters who fight fires. You have to help us," he added.
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