Greek firefighters continued to combat wildfires on the island of Crete on Friday, July 31, 2026, with improved conditions around Rethymno, though many hotspots remain, a fire department spokesperson told AFP. Fires also burned on the Aegean Sea islands of Paros, Kalymnos, and Andros, where the situation was reported as better.
In southwestern France, a massive wildfire near Bordeaux that had ravaged 42,000 hectares was stabilized early Friday thanks to favorable overnight conditions, according to the local prefecture. The fire, burning since Tuesday, consumed more than 6,000 hectares. With containment improving, over half of the 224,000 evacuated residents have returned to their homes across 12 municipalities.
Since Wednesday, at least 169 fires have ignited across France, with 163 now under control, the country's agriculture minister reported. Ukraine dispatched a team of 70 rescuers and 15 specialized vehicles to assist France in battling the blazes that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee.
The intensity of these fires highlights the increasing risk Europe faces as climate change dries vegetation, making such emergencies more severe, scientists say.
A firefighter works to extinguish an advancing wildfire near Formariz in Zamora province, Spain, on July 29, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Umit Bektas)
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