Firefighters battle a wildfire near Avila, Spain, on August 16.
In photos: Europe battles wildfires amid scorching heat waves
Firefighters battle a wildfire near Avila, Spain, on August 16.
Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 0848 GMT (1648 HKT) August 17, 2021

A summer of record-setting heat in southern Europe has set off devastating wildfires that have torn through forests and homes and destroyed vital infrastructure from Turkey to Spain.

In Greece, firefighters battled flames moving towards ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. In its capital Athens, residents were told to stay at home to avoid the smoke pollution belched into the atmosphere by fires in a northern suburb.

Powerful winds helped fan the flames in Turkey, where apocalyptic scenes followed more than 100 blazes that broke out across the country. As the country reeled from scorching temperatures, hundreds had to evacuate by sea as they fled the advancing fire in the tourist hotspot of Bodrum.

Experts say the heat waves and fires in Europe this summer are signs of the impact of climate change, and that extreme weather will only get worse in coming years.

A helicopter drops water as a wildfire burns in the village of Navalmoral, Spain, on August 16.
A helicopter drops water as a wildfire burns in the village of Navalmoral, Spain, on August 16.
Juan Medina/Reuters
A man works to douse a fire in Montalto, Italy, on August 12.
A man works to douse a fire in Montalto, Italy, on August 12.
Vincenzo Circosta/Medialys Image/Shutterstock
Forest fires rage on the Greek island of Euboea on August 11.
Forest fires rage on the Greek island of Euboea on August 11.
Handout/Latin America News Agency/Reuters
This aerial photo shows a wildfire-affected area in Mugla, Turkey, on August 11.
This aerial photo shows a wildfire-affected area in Mugla, Turkey, on August 11.
Omer Urer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Remains of an 18th-century Orthodox church are seen on August 10, after a fire on the Greek island of Evia.
Remains of an 18th-century Orthodox church are seen on August 10, after a fire on the Greek island of Evia.
Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
Local youths and volunteers gather in a field and wait to support firefighters during a wildfire on August 9, close to the village of Kamatriades on the Greek island of Evia.
Local youths and volunteers gather in a field and wait to support firefighters during a wildfire on August 9, close to the village of Kamatriades on the Greek island of Evia.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images
People sleep in a car near the beach in Pefki village as wildfires rage on the island of Evia on August 8.
People sleep in a car near the beach in Pefki village as wildfires rage on the island of Evia on August 8.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images
A resident reacts as a wildfire approaches her house in the Greek village of Gouves, on the island of Evia, on August 8.
A resident reacts as a wildfire approaches her house in the Greek village of Gouves, on the island of Evia, on August 8.
Konstantinos Tsakalidis/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A house in Pefkofito, Greece, is destroyed on August 7.
A house in Pefkofito, Greece, is destroyed on August 7.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images
A firefighter washes his face in the Milas area of Mugla, Turkey, on August 7.
A firefighter washes his face in the Milas area of Mugla, Turkey, on August 7.
Emre Tazegul/AP
People are evacuated on a ferry as a wildfire burns in Limni, Greece, on August 6.
People are evacuated on a ferry as a wildfire burns in Limni, Greece, on August 6.
Nicolas Economou/Reuters
A satellite photo shows smoke rising from fires on the island of Evia, Greece, on August 5.
A satellite photo shows smoke rising from fires on the island of Evia, Greece, on August 5.
Planet Labs Inc./AP
Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire near the town of Olympia, Greece, on August 5.
Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire near the town of Olympia, Greece, on August 5.
Giannis Spyrounis/ilialive.gr/AP
Residents react during a wildfire near Olympia on August 5.
Residents react during a wildfire near Olympia on August 5.
Giannis Spyrounis/AP
The grounds of a burnt hotel are seen in Lalas village, near Olympia, on August 5.
The grounds of a burnt hotel are seen in Lalas village, near Olympia, on August 5.
Giannis Spyrounis/ilialive.gr/AP
People move belongings to safety as a forest fire rages in a wooded area north of Athens, Greece, on August 5.
People move belongings to safety as a forest fire rages in a wooded area north of Athens, Greece, on August 5.
Angelos Tzortzinis/picture alliance/Getty Images
A wildfire approaches the Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece, on August 4.
A wildfire approaches the Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece, on August 4.
Giannis Spyrounis/ilialive.gr/AP
The remnants of a destroyed house are seen in the Varibobi area of northern Athens on August 4.
The remnants of a destroyed house are seen in the Varibobi area of northern Athens on August 4.
Thanassis Stavrakis/AP
Onlookers view the smoke from the wildfires blanketing Athens' Acropolis on August 4.
Onlookers view the smoke from the wildfires blanketing Athens' Acropolis on August 4.
Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images
A charred area of Mugla, Turkey, after a forest fire on August 3.
A charred area of Mugla, Turkey, after a forest fire on August 3.
Yasin Akgul/AFP/Getty Images
Smoke and flames rise over the village of Limni on the Greek island of Evia.
Smoke and flames rise over the village of Limni on the Greek island of Evia.
Michael Pappas/AP
Firefighters work as a house burns in the Adames area of northern Athens on August 3.
Firefighters work as a house burns in the Adames area of northern Athens on August 3.
Michael Varaklas/AP
A woman pours water over a baby's head at a fountain in Skopje, North Macedonia, as temperatures reached over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on August 2.
A woman pours water over a baby's head at a fountain in Skopje, North Macedonia, as temperatures reached over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on August 2.
Georgi Licovslki/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A man leads sheep away from an advancing fire in Mugla, Turkey, on August 2.
A man leads sheep away from an advancing fire in Mugla, Turkey, on August 2.
Yasin Akgul/AFP/Getty Images
People watch an advancing fire that rages around the Cokertme village near Bodrum, Turkey, on August 2.
People watch an advancing fire that rages around the Cokertme village near Bodrum, Turkey, on August 2.
Emre Tazegul/AP
Local residents watch as a Greek army helicopter collects water to tackle a wildfire near the village of Lambiri, Greece, on August 1.
Local residents watch as a Greek army helicopter collects water to tackle a wildfire near the village of Lambiri, Greece, on August 1.
Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
A handout photo from the Italian National Fire Brigade shows an aerial view of a fire in the Pineta Dannunziana reserve in Pescara, Italy, on August 1.
A handout photo from the Italian National Fire Brigade shows an aerial view of a fire in the Pineta Dannunziana reserve in Pescara, Italy, on August 1.
Handout/Vigili del Fuoco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A man surveys a fire at Le Capannine beach in the Sicilian town of Catania, Italy, on July 30.
A man surveys a fire at Le Capannine beach in the Sicilian town of Catania, Italy, on July 30.
Roberto Viglianisi/Reuters
Firefighters battle a massive wildfire that engulfed a Mediterranean resort region on Turkey's southern coast near the town of Manavgat on July 29.
Firefighters battle a massive wildfire that engulfed a Mediterranean resort region on Turkey's southern coast near the town of Manavgat on July 29.
Ilyas Akengin/AFP/Getty Images
A firefighter talks to his colleague as they work to put out fires in Cuglieri, on the Italian island of Sardinia, on July 26.
A firefighter talks to his colleague as they work to put out fires in Cuglieri, on the Italian island of Sardinia, on July 26.
Alessandro Tocco/LaPresse/AP
A firefighting helicopter passes in front of a cloud of smoke from a forest fire near Spathovouni village, southwest of Athens, Greece, on July 23.
A firefighting helicopter passes in front of a cloud of smoke from a forest fire near Spathovouni village, southwest of Athens, Greece, on July 23.
Valerie Gache/AP