Europe Burns: Wildfires Rage in Portugal, Greece

As of Sunday, July 5, 2026, hundreds of firefighters are actively battling significant wildfires in Portugal and Greece, with Spain and Italy providing crucial cross-border assistance to Portugal. In central Portugal's Vouzela area, a wildfire that began Thursday had consumed approximately 12,000 hectares by Sunday, necessitating the deployment of over 1,200 firefighters, nearly 400 vehicles, and 15 aircraft. This extensive blaze prompted Spain to send 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles, while Italy and Spain collectively dispatched three firefighting aircraft to aid in containment efforts.

Meanwhile, Greece is contending with a separate wildfire incident near Thessaloniki, the country's second-largest city. A fast-moving blaze at a recycling plant in the Oraiokastro suburb, which erupted Saturday evening, released toxic smoke, leading authorities to advise residents to stay indoors with windows shut. Approximately 160 firefighters worked through the night to control the flames, with water-dropping aircraft joining the effort at dawn. Several businesses and homes sustained damage, according to local officials. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of negligently starting the fire with sparks from his vehicle. This incident follows a recent tragedy in a nearby area where a wildfire claimed the lives of a father and his 12-year-old son.