Wildfires across Europe in August 2026 have resulted in multiple deaths and widespread destruction, with Greece, Spain, and Belgium among the hardest-hit countries. The wildfires in Europe, fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions during a historically hot summer, have forced thousands to flee their homes and prompted large-scale emergency responses.

On the Greek island of Salamina, west of Athens, two people were found dead on Sunday during firefighting operations, according to Greek broadcaster ERT. Initial reports indicated the victims were a married couple discovered near the origin of a blaze in the forested Peristeria area. Strong winds accelerated the fire’s spread, burning pine forests and damaging homes. Another fire broke out in the Kaki Vigla area, where an elderly man was rescued and nine people with burns were treated at the Salamina Health Center. At least 90 residents were evacuated by sea, while 146 firefighters, volunteers, four water-dropping planes, and six helicopters worked to contain the flames. The latest fatalities bring Greece’s wildfire death toll this summer to eight.

In Spain, a soldier lost his life on Sunday while battling a major wildfire in Aragon. Local authorities deployed the largest firefighting force in the region’s history as flames swept across 16,600 hectares, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 people. Around 1,000 firefighters and up to 40 aircraft were involved in the operation, with France sending an additional 100 firefighters to assist. In Andalusia, more than 400 evacuees were allowed to return home after a wildfire that raged for 10 days and affected over 25,000 hectares was declared under control.

Meanwhile, Belgium faced a record-breaking wildfire on its border with Germany, further highlighting the scale of the crisis. Water-dropping aircraft and farmers’ tractors assisted firefighters battling Belgium’s largest modern-day wildfire in a hard-to-access nature reserve, with nearly 3,000 hectares burned by Sunday. A border town ordered a partial evacuation due to the growing threat.

Portugal and Croatia were also battling wildfires, with several blazes reported near the Spanish border and arrests made in Croatia for suspected arson. In France’s Landes department, a fire that burned 1,700 hectares was stabilized after three days of operations.

European countries are coordinating emergency responses as the wildfires continue to threaten lives, property, and natural landscapes. The situation remains critical, with authorities warning that ongoing heat and dry weather could lead to further outbreaks.