Climate change-fueled heat and dwindling rainfall made this summer’s devastating wildfires in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus far more intense, according to a new study released Thursday.
The research by World Weather Attribution (WWA) found that the fires, which killed 20 people, forced 80,000 to flee and scorched more than 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres), burned 22% more fiercely in 2025 — Europe’s worst wildfire season on record.
The blazes erupted in June and July under searing heat above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), prolonged dry conditions and powerful winds. WWA called its findings “concerning,” warning of a strong climate change signal toward hotter and drier weather.
“With 1.3 degrees of warming, we’re already seeing new extremes in wildfire behavior that have stretched firefighters to their limit,” said Theodore Keeping of Imperial College London. “Unless countries move faster away from fossil fuels, we are heading toward 3 degrees this century.”
The study noted winter rainfall has declined by 14% since the pre-industrial era, while weeklong stretches of hot, dry air that prime vegetation for fire are now 13 times more likely. Stronger high-pressure systems have also intensified northerly Etesian winds that fan flames.
Spain, Portugal, and Greece fight wildfires amid prolonged heatwave
Fire experts in Greece say such winds are now harder to wait out. “It seems that they cannot count on this pattern anymore,” said Gavriil Xanthopoulos of the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems.
Independent scientists said the findings align with broader research. “Climate change is loading the dice for more bad wildfire seasons in the Mediterranean,” said Flavio Lehner, a Cornell University climate scientist.
Source: Agency