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Wildfires across the European Union have scorched more than 1 million hectares this year, marking the worst fire season on record since the bloc began tracking the data in 2006.
According to figures from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) analyzed by POLITICO, fires have consumed roughly 1,016,000 hectares, an area larger than Cyprus and about a third the size of Belgium.
The milestone surpasses the previous high set in 2017, when just under 988,000 hectares were lost. Most of this year’s destruction has occurred since Aug. 5, when EFFIS data indicated 380,000 hectares had burned. The bulk of the blazes has taken place on the Iberian Peninsula.
Spain has recorded over 400,000 hectares affected, while Portugal has seen more than 270,000 hectares burned, representing roughly 3% of the country’s territory. Spanish authorities say this is the nation’s worst wildfire season since 1994, based on records dating back to the 1960s.
Experts point to recent heat waves and drought conditions that have left forests tinder-dry, while climate change continues to drive hotter, drier summers across southern Europe. However, researchers emphasize that the primary causes are human-related: neglected land management and a build-up of flammable vegetation on abandoned fields. Spanish prosecutors recently launched an inquiry into the lack of preventive measures.
In addition to destroying land and property, wildfires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide, putting the EU on track for potentially record-high emissions linked to fires this year, according to EFFIS.
With information from Politico Europe.
