Filenews 12 August2025 - by Fanis Makridis
An interesting analysis of the devastating fires in Europe this summer, with special references to Cyprus, is made by the Travel and Tour World (TTW) website based in India and has an international impact and high traffic.
TTW, which is characterized as an interactive platform for tourism and has developed partnerships with major tourism exhibitions worldwide, summarizes the fires of the Old Continent, under the question whether a travel directive should be issued for those interested in travelling to European destinations.
As far as Cyprus is concerned, the report makes special reference to the high temperatures that prevail on our island. Under the title "Extreme temperatures", the author of the article records the following: "On 23–24 July, during a heat wave with temperatures of over 44°C, fires broke out near Malia, in the Limassol District. These fires destroyed dozens of properties and forced the evacuation of more than 16 communities."
The report presents the big picture with the fires in Europe accompanied by a table: "In 2025, Europe faced a devastating forest fire season, with many countries experiencing some of the worst fires in recent decades.
The devastation stretches from southern France to Scotland, leaving behind burnt land, lost homes and broken communities. In France, Mount Corbier saw its biggest fire in over 50 years, burning 16,000 hectares and causing mass evacuations.
Mount Vesuvius in Italy suffered a fire that destroyed 500 hectares, leading to the closure of popular hiking trails. In the Balkans, Albania evacuated 2,000 people near Delvino, while Bulgaria battled nearly 100 forest fires on Mount Pirin.
The Mediterranean was particularly hard hit. The Piska region of Croatia lost homes and an olive oil mill. Spain has faced multiple fires, causing deaths, injuries and displacements. Turkey has experienced a severe crisis, with 50,000 people evacuated and at least 10 dead after the fires that swept through the provinces of Izmir and Eskişehir.
Cyprus, which is battling extreme temperatures above 44°C, has seen dozens of properties destroyed and 16 communities evacuated. Even northern Europe has not been unaffected. In Scotland, the Dava fire burned nearly 11,827 hectares, while Arthur City in Edinburgh caught fire in August.
By early August, more than 353,000 hectares had burned across the EU, more than double last year's total and well above historical averages. Heat waves, drought and strong winds have created ideal conditions for these disasters, pushing firefighting resources to their limits and underscoring the urgent challenge of protecting communities from the intensifying climate crisis."
Statistics
Yesterday's publication also presents statistics that summarize the magnitude of the disaster in Europe from fires.
By the beginning of August, the following data were recorded:
>> 353,000 hectares burned in Europe in 2025 so far
>> More than double the area compared to 2024
>> Well above the 19-year average
As pointed out, the economic losses include disasters in agriculture, infrastructure and tourism. Ecologically, wildfires have destroyed habitats, killed wildlife, and released huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
