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EU forest fires destroy nearly 435,000 hectares; Turkey's damage declines
Fires in EU countries have destroyed nearly 435,000 hectares since the beginning of 2025, while Turkey has recorded a significant decrease in burned areas in the same period.
Forest fires in European Union (EU) countries since the beginning of 2025 have caused about 25 percent more destruction compared to last year, driven by extreme heat due to climate change. According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System as of July 29, the total burned area reached 434,976 hectares.
This figure corresponds to an area of about 4,350 square kilometers. The size of the burned area exceeds 1.7 times the surface area of Luxembourg and 14 times that of Malta.
Fires increased in July
Last July, there was a significant increase in the number of fires, and major losses occurred in forest cover. In 2025, the damaged areas rose to about 2.5 times the average between 2006 and 2025. The number of recorded forest fires in the same period climbed to 1,407, surpassing twice the long-term average.
Spain was the most affected country
Among EU countries, Spain was the worst-hit by the fires. In that country, 208,420 hectares burned, accounting for about half of the total burned area across the Union. Spain was followed by France with 91,024 hectares. Italy and Portugal were also among the other countries severely affected by the fires.
Fire damage in Turkey declined
Meanwhile, data from the General Directorate of Forestry in Turkey showed a significant drop in fire damage. Last year, from January 1 to July 29, 57,005 hectares burned; this year, the burned area in the same period was just 1,867 hectares. The number of fires also fell from 1,916 to 1,032.
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