The European Union is facing its worst wildfire season on record, with burnt areas exceeding 1 million hectares.

This information comes from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), as analyzed by Politico, reports "European Truth".

Since January, wildfires have consumed 1.016 million hectares – an area larger than Cyprus or about a third of Belgium. This is the first time the EU has crossed the 1 million hectare mark since EFFIS began tracking in 2006. The previous worst season was in 2017, when just under 988,000 hectares were affected. Nearly two-thirds of the damage occurred after August 5, when 380,000 hectares were burned according to EFFIS. The majority of the fires took place on the Iberian Peninsula, with Spain accounting for over 400,000 hectares, while the significantly smaller Portugal has seen flames engulf more than 270,000 hectares – or 3% of the country’s total area. In Spain, where fire data records date back to the 1960s, this year has turned out to be the worst fire season since 1994, according to government data. Both countries have been suffering from scorching heat over the past weeks, drying out forests and turning the peninsula into a wasteland. Climate change is exacerbating the risk of wildfires by causing more frequent and intense heatwaves and droughts. However, scientists argue that the main cause of the catastrophic fires in Spain and Portugal is the excess of flammable vegetation on abandoned lands and the authorities' failure to implement preventive measures. This week, Spain's special prosecutor for environmental issues launched an investigation into the lack of fire prevention plans. According to EFFIS, wildfires also release large amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming, and the EU is on track for a potential new record in fire-related pollution. The Romanian government has decided to provide Spain with assistance in combating wildfires through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.