Thousands Flee Wildfires in Turkey as Europe Scorches Under Early Heatwave

Istanbul/Paris/Rome —
Thousands of people have been evacuated across western Turkey as devastating wildfires, fueled by soaring temperatures and strong winds, continue to rage for a second day. Meanwhile, much of Europe is sweltering under an unusually early and intense heatwave that has triggered emergency alerts and disrupted daily life from the Netherlands to Italy.

According to Turkey’s disaster agency AFAD, more than 50,000 people were evacuated from five regions, with 42,000 alone displaced in Izmir province, where firefighters are battling multiple blazes under extreme weather conditions.

Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed the wildfires were fanned by strong coastal winds, adding that efforts to contain the fires remain ongoing. “We are facing one of the most challenging starts to summer in recent memory,” he said.

Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have seen a troubling rise in wildfires over recent years, a trend scientists attribute to climate change, which has intensified drought conditions and raised average summer temperatures.

Heatwave Grips Europe

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that parts of Western Europe are currently experiencing temperatures 5–10°C above average for this time of year.

France, which placed 84 out of 101 departments on heatwave alert, saw wildfires break out in the Aude region on Sunday, where 400 hectares of land were burned, prompting the evacuation of a campsite and historic abbey. Authorities say the fires are now under control but not fully extinguished.

In Spain, where the national weather service AEMET warns of the hottest June on record, temperatures soared to 43.7°C in El Granado, with Seville hitting 42°C even as it hosted a United Nations conference on climate resilience.

Italy’s Health Ministry has issued red alerts for 16 cities, including Rome and Milan, warning of severe health risks. The Lombardy region is moving to restrict outdoor labor during peak hours, a move encouraged by trade unions.

In Germany, the extreme heat led to water conservation appeals and falling water levels in the Rhine River, disrupting commercial shipping routes and driving up freight costs.

A Crisis of Heat and Humanity

The European heatwave has forced governments to ramp up emergency measures. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, infants, outdoor workers, and low-income communities are most at risk.

Globally, extreme heat is estimated to cause up to 480,000 deaths annually, surpassing fatalities from floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes combined, according to Swiss Re.

Climate experts continue to warn that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe due to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was officially the hottest year ever recorded, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated climate action.