Climate change, not El Niño, is the main force behind the fires in southern Europe
Wildfires in Greece, Portugal and Spain and a deadly US heatwave are unfolding in conditions made more dangerous by human-driven warming, while El Niño is not the direct explanation for the European fires.
In 30 seconds
- AP reported wildfires in Greece, Portugal and Spain on 5 July 2026.
- Copernicus mapping cited by AP put the Vouzela fire in Portugal at about 12,000 hectares by Sunday.
- AP reported at least 19 suspected heat-related deaths in New Jersey during the US heatwave.
- Climate change increases heatwave intensity and fire-weather risk; El Niño is not the direct cause of the European fires.
The subject is a linked extreme-weather episode: active wildfires in southern Europe and a major US heatwave. The main entities are Greek, Portuguese and Spanish emergency services, the US National Weather Service, AP, Copernicus satellite mapping, the WMO and IPCC climate science assessments.
Background
Mediterranean countries have long had summer wildfires, but hotter summers and longer dry spells increase fire weather risk. The IPCC has assessed with high confidence that human-caused climate change has made hot extremes more frequent and more intense across most land regions.
What to do
Travellers should avoid fire zones, monitor air quality, keep documents and medicines ready, check transport disruption and treat local evacuation orders as binding.
The Belgian angle
Belgium is not the centre of the story. The relevant Belgian impact is on holidaymakers, airlines, insurers and families following local evacuation or health instructions in southern Europe.
EvidenceWell established · 2 primary sources + 1 official document + 2 independent reporting sources · Academic sources: 1Explore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Published:
- 5 Jul 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 6 Jul 2026
- Published:
- 5 Jul 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 6 Jul 2026
- Published:
- 6 Jul 2026, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 6 Jul 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 6 Jul 2026
- Published:
- 9 Aug 2021, 02:00
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 6 Jul 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 6 Jul 2026
Continue reading
This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.
This briefing was prepared with AI assistance and passed Belgium Impulse source, provenance and publication-quality checks. A human editorial review was recorded for this version. methodology.