A severe heatwave is shifting eastward across Europe, triggering widespread wildfires in Greece and causing the Danube River to reach historic low water levels. The extreme weather follows weeks of drought and intense heat across the continent.
In France, the Gironde region near Bordeaux is recovering after enduring the country’s largest wildfire in recent years. More than 200,000 people were evacuated as the fire, which scorched 42,000 hectares of pine forest and destroyed several hundred homes, threatened the city and surrounding areas. Authorities declared the fire largely stable on Thursday, allowing approximately 144,000 residents to return home. However, the Cap Ferret peninsula—a popular tourist destination—remains closed due to ongoing safety concerns; the only roadway connecting it to the mainland traverses areas severely damaged by the blaze.
Southern France’s Provence region was also affected by wildfires, with evacuations ordered in Brignoles, where actor George Clooney and his wife Amal temporarily relocated for safety. Meanwhile, Spain lifted its national state of emergency in Madrid and the nearby province of Avila as temperatures began to moderate.
The heatwave’s epicenter has now moved eastward, with Greece facing intense fire outbreaks on the island of Crete and near Athens. Firefighters in Boeotia, northwest of the capital, evacuated hundreds from a small coastal village by sea amid thick smoke and rapidly advancing flames engulfing olive groves and farmland. On Crete, strong winds reaching up to 70 mph have exacerbated the fires. Roughly 2,000 tourists were evacuated from the island, and the blazes have caused significant damage to homes, agricultural lands, and livestock.
The ongoing drought has also severely impacted the Danube River, Europe’s second-longest river, running from southwestern Germany to the Black Sea through ten countries. Water levels in Budapest reached a record low of just nine inches this week, falling well below previous measurements. The diminished flow has exposed rocks, sandbars, and relics such as old shipwrecks rarely visible before.
The low water has disrupted transportation along the river. Cruise ships that typically dock in Budapest must now anchor far upriver, while cargo ship navigation has been significantly curtailed across affected countries including Hungary, Serbia, and Romania. In response to the drought, nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary have reduced output or temporarily shut down reactor units due to insufficient water necessary for cooling.
The unusual exposure of the riverbed has also attracted local interest. Budapest treasure hunter Zsolt Horváth reports recovering metal artifacts, including bullet casings from both world wars, using magnetic equipment. “Having so little water in the Danube is a blessing for this kind of activity, otherwise, it’s a curse,” he said.
Forecasters expect the heatwave and drought conditions to persist in parts of eastern Europe, raising concerns about further environmental and economic disruption. Authorities continue firefighting efforts and urge vigilance as temperatures remain high.