Europe, "dangerously unprepared" in the face of wildfires / Romania, in 3rd place for damages caused - Reuters

Europe is dangerously unprepared to face an increasingly severe vegetation fire crisis, while Romania has suffered some of the most extensive damage caused by the burning of vegetation, after Spain and Portugal, Reuters reports, citing a recent report commissioned by Avincis.

This highlights that firefighting aircraft fleets need to be reviewed and that investments in this area must be intensified.

Climate change, declining rural populations, and the accumulation of flammable vegetation contribute to increased risks, especially in southern Europe.

Vegetation fires, which usually occur between June and September, are now also spreading in northern Europe, with Sweden reporting a 120% increase in the affected area.

In 2025, fires destroyed 1.03 million hectares of forest in the European Union, with Spain leading in damage.

Thus, according to the report, Spain suffered the most extensive damage, with 393,079 hectares burned, followed by Portugal, Romania, Italy, Greece, and France.

The European Commission will propose a new strategy for fire prevention, but there are challenges related to bureaucracy and the lack of qualified pilots. The EU has allocated 600 million euros for the acquisition of amphibious aircraft, but delays in production and strict regulations complicate firefighting efforts.