Spain and Portugal are currently experiencing one of Europe’s most destructive wildfire seasons in recent history. According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), by August 19, approximately 9,670 square kilometers of land had been consumed by fires across the European Union this year. This figure is almost three times higher than the average recorded between 2006 and 2024.

The situation is particularly severe in Southern Europe. Spain has witnessed nearly 4,000 square kilometers of forest and farmland destroyed, surpassing its previous record set in 2022 when 3,060 square kilometers were lost to flames. Meanwhile, Portugal has seen over 2,610 square kilometers ravaged by fire-nearly double last year's figures.

Spanish civil protection authorities have issued warnings about the ongoing threat these fires pose to populated regions. Defense Minister Margarita Robles highlighted the challenges faced by firefighting aircraft due to dense smoke obstructing visibility.

This wildfire season coincides with a prolonged heatwave lasting for 16 days-the third-longest on record-that pushed temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius over a weekend, reported Spain’s state weather agency Aemet.

Since January, Portugal alone has accounted for more than 2,610 square kilometers burned in wildfires. Recalling a similarly catastrophic period in 2017 when over 5,630 square kilometers were scorched-marking the deadliest fire season that claimed over a hundred lives-current efforts involve thousands of firefighters combating active blazes across multiple districts.

As updated figures illustrate devastation exceeding four times the long-term seasonal average at this time of year-244,000 hectares being typical-it further underscores severity with EFFIS documenting around 1,784 significant fires since early this year compared to last year's tally of just over a thousand during an equivalent timeframe.

The environmental impact is also profound; wildfires have emitted more than 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into Earth's atmosphere thus far-a threefold increase from emissions recorded last year during similar events.”