June 2025 has officially gone down as the hottest June ever recorded in Spain and Portugal, as a relentless and deadly heatwave sweeps across Europe, triggering wildfires, health emergencies, and mass evacuations.
Spain’s national meteorological agency, Aemet, described the month as “exceptionally hot,” with temperatures surpassing those typically seen in July and August. In neighboring Portugal, the country’s weather service documented an extreme high of 46.6°C in the eastern town of Mora — a record-breaking temperature for the month of June.
Across Europe, the heatwave’s effects have been devastating:
- Turkey has battled 263 wildfires in just three days, displacing over 50,000 people in the Izmir region alone. Fires have also erupted in Bilecik, Hatay, Sakarya, and Manisa.
- Italy reported two heat-related deaths and a 20% increase in hospital admissions in Tuscany. Authorities issued red alerts in 21 out of 27 cities, including Milan and Florence. Outdoor work is now banned during midday hours in Lombardy through September.
- Greece has endured days of 40°C temperatures, forcing evacuations around Athens due to raging wildfires that have destroyed several homes.
- France witnessed its hottest June day and night on record in multiple cities. The Eiffel Tower’s top level was closed, red alerts were declared across 16 regions, and more than 1,300 schools were shut.
- The UK recorded a sweltering 33.1°C at Heathrow, narrowly missing its all-time June high. Wimbledon also saw its hottest opening day on record at 32.9°C.
- Germany braced for temperatures nearing 38°C. Water levels in the Rhine River dropped significantly, disrupting trade by limiting cargo barge loads.
- Balkan nations faced brief relief from the heat, but wildfires continued in countries like Montenegro.
In addition to the human toll, the environmental damage is mounting. Warmer waters in the Adriatic Sea are accelerating the spread of invasive species such as the venomous lionfish. Europe’s alpine glaciers are also melting at an unprecedented rate, signaling irreversible climate shifts.
Experts attribute the escalating heat crisis to human-driven climate change. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming.
Richard Allan, a climate scientist at the University of Reading, emphasized:
“A hotter, drier atmosphere intensifies heatwaves, turning what used to be moderate events into dangerous extremes.”
The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned the Human Rights Council:
“Rising temperatures, sea levels, floods, droughts, and wildfires are threatening fundamental human rights — including the right to life, health, and a clean, sustainable environment.”
Turk called for urgent global action, including a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and stronger investment in climate adaptation strategies.
As temperatures remain dangerously high, experts and authorities alike stress the need for immediate and coordinated climate action to avert even deadlier consequences in the future.
