Firestorm Rages On: Fatalities in Greece and Spain
As Europe battles devastating wildfires, Croatian police have arrested four people suspected of arson along the Adriatic coast.
As Europe battles devastating wildfires, Croatian police have arrested four people suspected of arson along the Adriatic coast.
Europe continues to grapple with the severe aftermath of wildfires fueled by extreme heat and drought. Last Sunday, two people lost their lives on the Greek island of Salamina, while in Spain, a soldier died fighting a blaze in the Aragon region.
On Salamina, an island west of Athens, the fire spread rapidly due to strong winds. According to Chief Fire Officer Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, wind gusts reached the seventh level on the Beaufort scale.
"The area is experiencing very strong winds, with gusts reaching the seventh level on the Beaufort scale. This contributed to the fire quickly assuming dangerous proportions and approaching the nearest settlements within seven minutes," Vathrakogiannis said.
The two victims, initially believed to be a married couple, were found in the wooded area of Peristeria. In the village of Kaki Vigla, an elderly man was rescued, and nine people with burns were taken to a health center. At least 90 people were evacuated by sea, while HRT reports a total of 502 people evacuated from coastal areas onto passenger ferries. According to HRT, 260 firefighters with 58 vehicles and 15 specialized teams are involved in the response, supported by 10 aircraft and eight helicopters. Kurir.rs, on the other hand, reports 146 firefighters, four water-dropping planes, and six helicopters. These tragedies bring the death toll from wildfires in Greece this summer to eight.
In Spain's Aragon region, a fire has scorched 16,600 hectares and forced over 1,000 people to evacuate. Local authorities have deployed around 1,000 firefighters with support from up to 40 aircraft, the largest firefighting arsenal in the region's history. France has sent 100 of its firefighters to assist.
In Andalusia, more than 400 evacuees have been allowed to return home after a fire that raged for ten days and affected over 25,000 hectares was brought under control. Neighboring Portugal battled several fires near the Spanish border, including those in Botikas and Chaves, where five firefighters sustained minor injuries when their vehicle caught fire near the village of Dine.
Belgium is facing the largest fire in its modern history, which broke out in an inaccessible area near Germany. The fire expanded from 80 hectares on Friday to nearly 3,000 hectares by Sunday. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Water-dropping planes, farmers' tractors, and military helicopters have been assisting in the response. Authorities in one border town ordered a partial evacuation of residents, and the first group of 650 evacuees has been allowed to return home.
As Europe battles the firestorm, Croatian police have arrested four people suspected of starting some of the wildfires that have affected parts of the Adriatic coast in recent days. The fire also raged near Omiš on August 13 and 14, 2026. In France, after three days of ground and air operations, a fire in the Landes department has been stabilized.
