Earlier this summer, in June 2025, the French government issued a red alert for extreme weather as temperatures soared across the country. The BBC reported that wildfires raged in the “southern Corbières mountain range on Sunday [29 June 2025], leading to evacuations and the closure of a motorway. The fires have since been contained, officials told French media.”
On Tuesday 8 July 2025, Sky News reported that a wildfire had broken out near Marseille, France’s second-biggest city, as well as further fires further south on the coast. Flights were temporarily suspended from Marseille airport, but have now resumed.
Where are the wildfires in Spain?
Fires have also been reported across southern Spain. On Tuesday 5 August 2025, reports were released of fires starting in Andalucia and spreading across areas near Estrecho Natural Park. Aement, Spain’s meteorological service, have predicted that the Cadiz region is still expecting high temperatures, making it difficult to predict when the heatwave and consequent fires will subside.
Where are the wildfires in Greece?
Earlier this summer, extreme heat caused fires to spread across areas of Greece including Evia, Kythira, Crete and the Peloponnese region, just west of Athens. According to the BBC, in Kythira “about 20% of the island has been affected by the fire”. In early July 2025, wildfires in the Ierapetra region of Crete resulted in around 5,000 people being evacuated. Fires across the country are being fuelled by gale-force winds, spreading rapidly and edging towards homes and touristy areas.
Where are the wildfires in Turkey?
On Saturday 26 July, temperatures reached 50.5C in Turkey – the highest ever recorded in the area. Firefighters are working to contain the rapid spread, particularly in the Karabuk province and Eskisehir, while in other areas such as Cesme, water restrictions have been announced, according to the BBC.
Earlier in July, the BBC reported that more than 50,000 people were evacuated as a result of wildfires in the areas of Izmir, Bilecik, Hatay, Sakarya, and Manisa. Recent, consistent high temperatures have dried out the land, leading to fires causing considerable damage to property and land, and there have been reports of serious injuries.
Where are the wildfires in Albania?
On Saturday 26 July 2025, 26 wildfires were reported across Albania. According to Sky News, “about 2,000 residents” were evacuated from the town of Delvina, while “firefighters managed to extinguish 17 blazes fuelled by strong winds” in Kosovo.
What’s causing Europe’s wildfires?
The three factors that impact the spread of fires are high temperatures, drought and high wind. Much of Mediterranean Europe is already experiencing serious heatwaves this summer, and while many factors can be the final spark that ignites a wildfire (campfires, lightning, etc), hot temperatures are key.
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Should I cancel my holiday if there are wildfires?
Currently, the FDCO does not advise against travel to Turkey, Greece, France or Spain as a result of the wildfires (although note that the FDCO does advice against travel to certain areas of Turkey along the Iran border, as detailed on gov.uk). Always check government advice before travelling.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday because of the wildfires?
It depends. In previous years, some flights and package holidays to destinations that were severely affected by the wildfires were cancelled by tour operators. If your tour operator cancels your holiday or flight because of wildfires, you’ll be offered the chance to rebook or a refund.
However, flights and holidays to destinations which are not severely affected are likely to run as normal, and unless the FCDO have issued ‘do not travel’ advisories, insurance is unlikely to cover you if you choose to cancel your trip as it’s not deemed a necessity.
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