Forest fires in the EU this year have burned, so far, a record number of 700,000 hectares – the largest area since records began, writes Euronews, reports Rador. This figure was announced by the European Commission.

“We are facing a difficult summer in Europe, with more than 700,000 hectares burnt this year, the highest figure for this time of year since 2006,” said Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) show that Spain is currently the worst affected, with more than 283,000 hectares burned. It is followed by Romania (150,735), Portugal (86,631), France (62,102) and Italy (42,835).

The number of fires has also increased in recent years, with 2,300 fires reported in the EU as of 15 August, well above the 2006-2021 annual average of 1,349.

Climate change has increased the likelihood and severity of wildfires in Europe. According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, many of the fires this year have been caused by multiple heat waves and a drought that could be the worst in 500 years.

According to the Commission, in the past two months 29 planes and eight helicopters have been deployed across the bloc through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, through which EU countries help each other with resources in crisis situations.

Faced with the new reality, the Commission committed to finance the purchase by states of 12 new firefighting aircraft, but the first would be available only in 2026 and the rest by 2029.

This year, the EU reserve to fight forest fires consists of 12 aircraft and a helicopter borrowed from Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden.