Europe is burning, and experts warn: Welcome to the era of 'mega-fires'

The fourth heatwave in Europe is causing massive fires in Greece, Spain, and France. Three firefighters were killed in Greece, and the death toll in Spain has risen to 14. Experts warn that a combination of climate crisis, abandonment of villages, and accumulation of vegetation is leading to the era of mega-fires.

The fourth heatwave in Europe is claiming victims and fueling massive fires in Greece, Spain, and France. In Greece, three firefighters were killed in Crete and the Peloponnese: two were trapped by fire near Rethymno, and one was found lifeless near Gythio. The fire front stretched over 15 kilometers. Fires also broke out on the islands of Paros and Lesbos and in southern Turkey. In Spain, the death toll from fires earlier this month rose to 14 after a woman died from her injuries in Almeria. In France, the fires in Gironde are considered stabilized, but authorities warn of dry winds and temperatures of 41°C. Firefighting forces are protecting defense and aerospace industrial sites. In Portugal, maximum alert is in place against fire in the Vila Real district. Experts warn that a combination of global warming, extreme heatwaves, abandonment of villages, and accumulation of vegetation is leading to the era of mega-fires. The solution, they say, includes economic incentives, forest restoration, and a return to traditional sheep grazing.