Greece, Spain and Portugal race to contain wildfires as EU steps up cross-border help
The European Union's civil protection agency has activated wildfire assistance 16 times this summer amid extreme heat and dry conditions across southern Europe.
- On Thursday, firefighting teams across Greece, Spain, and Portugal worked swiftly to control wildfires, benefiting from calmer winds that helped slow the fires' progression amid hot and dry weather.
- The wildfires worsened due to a severe heatwave exceeding 111 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting multiple EU member states to request assistance this week.
- This season, the EU's civil protection system has been deployed on 16 occasions, dispatching firefighting aircraft to assist ground teams in Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania.
- More than 1,900 firefighters battled four major blazes in Portugal, while Spain reported three wildfire deaths in Leon and one near Madrid, and arrested three men suspected of arson near Patras.
- The wildfires have consumed nearly 100,000 hectares in Spain this year, with 2025's fire activations already matching all of 2024, suggesting persistent risks as authorities warn extreme heat will continue.
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Spain has asked the European Union for help to fight the devastating wildfires in the country. The European Commission says it plans to provide assistance to Spain under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which has been used 16 times so far.
·Estonia
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Firefighters struggle to contain blazes in northern and central Portugal
Thousands of firefighters in Portugal battled to contain multiple wildfires on Thursday as blazes threatened northern and central regions after weeks of intense heat across southern Europe.
·Pointe-Noire, Congo
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Total News Sources22
Leaning Left7Leaning Right1Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 35%
C 60%
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