Wildfires continued to spread across Europe as officials warned the damage could exceed €15 billion.
Tourists use handheld fans as they pause in Piazza del Campidoglio on Rome's Capitoline Hill, Saturday, Aug 1, 2026. (Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino)
07 Aug 2026 01:31AM
ROME: Italy took the unprecedented step of putting all its major cities on the top level of health alert due to high temperatures on Thursday (Aug 6), while Hungary turned off the lights at some of its best-known buildings to save energy as a heatwave maintained its grip on large parts of Europe.Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, has been ravaged by record-breaking heat and destructive wildfires this summer, with France and Spain particularly hard hit in recent weeks.The European Union will push its member countries to spend more on measures to reduce wildfire risk, its environment commissioner told Reuters, as experts said the economic cost of this summer's blazes had already exceeded €15 billion (US$17.3 billion).Bulgaria in southeast Europe was the latest EU country to be hit by wildfire. The main Trakia highway was closed in both directions on Thursday after the wind carried the flames of a huge fire across it around 70 km (45 miles) southeast of the capital Sofia, NOVA news portal reported.
