Athens, July 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: Hundreds of firefighters continued battling major wildfires across Portugal, Greece and Spain on Sunday, as European countries stepped up cross-border assistance to contain the rapidly spreading blazes amid challenging weather conditions.
In Greece, authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest city, to remain indoors and keep windows and doors closed because of toxic smoke from a recycling plant that caught fire after being engulfed by a wildfire.
A separate major wildfire also broke out on Sunday afternoon west of the Greek capital, Athens, threatening pine forests in the Mandra area.
According to the Greek Fire Department, 210 firefighters, supported by volunteers, specialized ground units and 29 aircraft, including water-dropping planes and helicopters, were deployed to contain the blaze. Emergency crews worked to bring the fire under control before nightfall, when aerial firefighting operations are suspended.
In neighbouring Portugal, more than 1,200 firefighters, assisted by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, continued efforts to extinguish a massive wildfire in the central Vouzela region that has been burning since Thursday, according to the country’s Civil Protection Authority.
Data from the European Union’s Copernicus satellite mapping agency indicated that the wildfire had scorched approximately 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) by Sunday.
The European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department said Spain deployed 120 firefighters and 45 emergency vehicles to Portugal on Friday to support firefighting efforts, while Italy and Spain also dispatched three firefighting aircraft to assist in combating the blaze.
Authorities across the affected countries continue to monitor the situation closely as high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds increase the risk of further wildfire outbreaks across southern Europe.
