Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA Canadair firefighting plane drops water at a burning recycling factory in Oreokastro, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, Greece, July 5, 2026. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis (Reuters)Wildfires are raging across several European holiday destinations, including Portugal, Greece, and Spain, with hundreds of firefighters deployed. In central Portugal, over 1,200 firefighters are battling a blaze in Vouzela that has scorched 12,000 hectares, with international reinforcements providing aid. Greece is experiencing multiple fires, including a recycling plant blaze near Thessaloniki that prompted indoor warnings due to toxic smoke, and a large wildfire west of Athens. A 76-year-old man was arrested in Greece on suspicion of negligently starting the Thessaloniki recycling plant fire, with authorities stating 85% of Greek wildfires are due to negligence. Spain is also contending with a significant wildfire in the Girona region, which has consumed nearly 2,200 hectares and has a 40-kilometre perimeter. In fullTourist spots across Europe hit by wildfires as Greece warns of toxic smokeMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Wildfires spread across Europe as Spain, Greece and Portugal burn
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA Canadair firefighting plane drops water at a burning recycling factory in Oreokastro, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, Greece, July 5, 2026. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis (Reuters)Wildfires are raging across several European holiday destinations, including Portugal, Greece, and Spain, with hundreds of firefighters deployed. In central Portugal, over 1,200 firefighters are battling a blaze in Vouzela that has scorched 12,000 hectares, with international reinforcements providing aid. Greece is experiencing multiple fires, including a recycling plant blaze near Thessaloniki that prompted indoor warnings due to toxic smoke, and a large wildfire west of Athens. A 76-year-old man was arrested in Greece on suspicion of negligently starting the Thessaloniki recycling plant fire, with authorities stating 85% of Greek wildfires are due to negligence. Spain is also contending with a significant wildfire in the Girona region, which has consumed nearly 2,200 hectares and has a 40-kilometre perimeter. In fullTourist spots across Europe hit by wildfires as Greece warns of toxic smokeMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
