Deadly Wildfires Ravage Spain and Portugal as Climate Change Amplifies Risk

A record one million hectares of land — roughly half the size of Wales — have burned across the European Union this year, marking the worst wildfire season since records began in 2006. Spain and Portugal have been hit hardest, with around 1% of the Iberian Peninsula scorched.

In just one week, wildfires in Spain destroyed more than 175,000 hectares, while Portugal has lost nearly 3% of its territory, or about 260,000 hectares. Together, the two countries account for nearly two-thirds of Europe’s total burned area this year.

Climate Change Driving Fire Conditions

A rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution found that human-caused climate change made the hot, dry and windy conditions that fueled the fires about 40 times more likely. It also intensified the ten-day Iberian heatwave — Spain’s hottest on record — making it 200 times more likely and 3°C hotter than it would have been without climate change.

Key findings include:

• Intense fire-prone weather is now 40 times more frequent and 30% more intense compared to preindustrial times.

• Heatwaves like the recent one would have been expected once every 2,500 years without climate change. Now, they can occur every 13 years.

• Rural-to-urban migration has left farms and forests overgrown, providing dangerous amounts of fuel for wildfires.

Dr Clair Barnes of Imperial College London warned: “Hotter, drier and more flammable conditions are becoming more severe with climate change, and are giving rise to fires of unprecedented intensity. Unfortunately, these fires are a sign of what is to come.”

Human and Environmental Toll

The wildfires, which broke out in late July, have killed at least eight people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Smoke drifted across Spain and Portugal, reducing air quality and spreading as far as France, the UK, and Scandinavia. Even parts of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route had to be closed.

In Spain, more than 380,000 hectares have burned — nearly five times the annual average. Portugal has seen losses close to three times its yearly average.

Firefighting Under Strain

Spain made its first-ever request for international firefighting reinforcements through the European Civil Protection Mechanism in mid-August. Firefighters have faced chaotic conditions, with some blazes so intense they created their own winds, igniting new fires from flying embers.

Maja Vahlberg of the Red Cross Climate Centre noted: “Even with hundreds of firefighters and dozens of planes, wildfires still burned more than 320,000 hectares over two weeks in Spain.”

Looking Ahead

Experts stress that urgent action is needed:

• Reducing fossil fuel use to slow global warming.

• Vegetation management, including controlled burns, grazing, and clearing of abandoned farmland.

• Community awareness and prevention efforts, as many wildfires are sparked by negligent human activity.

Prof Friederike Otto of Imperial College London issued a stark warning: “Spain is being hit hard by climate change. Extreme weather is becoming more frequent, but deaths and damages are preventable. Ultimately, the world must stop burning oil, gas and coal. The wildfires in Europe show that 1.3°C of warming today is already incredibly dangerous.”

As scientists warn, without a faster shift away from fossil fuels, the Iberian Peninsula — and much of Europe — faces a future of ever more catastrophic wildfires.

The writer of this article is Dr. Seema Javed, an environmentalist & a communications professional in the field of climate and energy