Spain's recent heatwave reportedly shattered past records, marking it as the most severe yet.

Record-Breaking Heatwave Fuels Devastating Wildfires in Spain and Portugal

Spain and Portugal have been battling unprecedented wildfires over the past few weeks, with the August heatwave setting new records for the hottest consecutive days on record in Spain since at least 1950.

The heatwave has contributed to wildfires in both northern and western regions of Spain and Portugal, destroying a total of over 888,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) of land since the start of the year. This includes more than 350,000 hectares (865,000 acres) in the northern regions of Spain, which have been ravaged by fires in the past few weeks.

The August heatwave has exceeded the previous record set in July 2022, with an average temperature 4.6C higher than previous events. This extreme heat has been a major factor in the wildfires, which have claimed the lives of at least eight people – four in Portugal and four in Spain – and forced thousands to evacuate their homes.

Hundreds of people are still kept away from their homes, but many have started returning in the past 24 hours as authorities begin to control the fires. Firefighting aircraft and personnel from nine European countries, including Sweden, Germany, Greece, France, and Italy, have been assisting Spanish and Portuguese emergency services as part of the EU civil protection mechanism.

The Carlos III Health Institute has estimated that more than 1,100 deaths in Spain have been linked to the August heatwave. This is a 50 percent increase compared to July 2024. In July, the institute had already reported that 1,060 deaths could be attributed to excess heat.

Scientists warn that climate change is driving longer, more intense, and more frequent heatwaves worldwide. The agency AEMET stated that it is a scientific fact that current summers are hotter than in previous decades. Since it began keeping records in 1975, AEMET has registered 77 heatwaves in Spain, with six going 4C or more above the average. Five of those have been since 2019.

The devastation caused by the wildfires is not only a tragedy for those affected, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change. As the world continues to warm, it is crucial that we take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing climate to prevent such disasters from becoming more common.

Spain's recent heatwave reportedly shattered past records, marking it as the most severe yet.