Wildfires have forced emergency evacuations and disrupted tourism across major European holiday destinations, including Greece, Croatia, France, Spain, and Turkey. Punishing heatwaves and severe drought have triggered massive blazes that hit peak-season coastal resorts and mountain villages.
The primary holiday resorts and tourist regions heavily impacted by the blazes include:
Greece
- Halkidiki Peninsula: The coastal resort towns of Siviri and Fourka suffered severe disruptions. A massive “wall of fire” forced the sea evacuation of hundreds of holidaymakers directly from the beaches.
- Crete: Tourist facilities and hotels in the Rethymno region—specifically around Agia Galini and Kyra Vrysi—faced large-scale evacuations due to fast-moving brush fires.
- Paros: Multiple holiday villages on this popular island were evacuated as an emergency precaution.
Croatia
- Omis (Dalmatian Coast): The picturesque resort town of Omis, located south of Split, faced an overnight inferno that engulfed local properties and forced over a thousand tourists and residents to flee to emergency shelters.
- Lokva Rogoznica: This popular beachfront area along the Adriatic coast experienced severe wildfire threats, leading to highway closures and tourist flight.
France
- Gironde & Arcachon Bay: Major blazes forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from popular Atlantic coast holiday spots, including the upscale peninsula of Cap Ferret. More than 60 holiday campsites in the region had to be cleared.
- Landes Region: Tourism in Lacanau and Biscarrosse faced widespread disruption, while the village of Luglon saw hundreds of emergency evacuations.
Spain
- Sierra Oeste: Vacation spots and rural tourist zones near Madrid required heavy firefighting deployments to bring aggressive blazes under control.
- Regional Hotspots: Wildfires also disrupted tourist areas across Castile and León, Galicia, Aragón, Extremadura, and the Canary Islands.
Turkey
- Aegean & Mediterranean Regions: Popular sun-and-sea holiday areas, including Seydikemer, faced intense blazes that required emergency ferry evacuations for trapped holidaymakers.
