Europe on fire / Fires rage in Italy, Spain, and Croatia, flames engulf forests and villages

Europe continues to face extreme temperatures as parts of the continent battle daily wildfires that have burned thousands of hectares of forest.

In Italy, on Mount Vesuvius, firefighting operations have been ongoing for more than 48 hours, with the army called in to assist.

About 80 firefighters continue working on Monday, reinforced by teams from across Italy. Since Monday morning, four Canadair planes have been helping from the air.

Authorities of Vesuvius National Park announced that the trail network near the volcano was closed for safety reasons and to facilitate firefighting operations, while the Pompeii archaeological park remains open to the public.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, though there are strong suspicions of arson.

Spain is also battling fires, especially in the Castilla Leon and Navarra regions. High temperatures and strong winds have made fighting the flames more difficult.

So far this year, wildfires have consumed about 36,000 hectares of forested land in Spain. Official data shows that over 15 large fires have spread across the country in 2025 — above the average for the past 10 years.

In Portugal, firefighters are tackling fires in several regions. Some homes and a nursing home had to be evacuated.

About 2,000 firefighters are on the ground working to extinguish the flames, while temperatures above 40°C have complicated their efforts.

Fires have also occurred in Croatia, specifically in the coastal village of Jesenice near Split.

The flames came dangerously close to homes, forcing authorities to close the main road from Omis to Split.

According to the Croatian Fire Department, the fire spread over three kilometers and several residents were evacuated from the area.

Around 140 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, and three Canadair planes assisted from the air in extinguishing the flames.

“KORÇA BOOM”