Portugal has once again experienced a critical year for wildfires, as the small country topped the list for the largest burnt area in Europe—a pattern that has repeated itself over the past two decades.
The interior of Portugal is rapidly becoming depopulated and abandoned, leaving large areas of the country with poorly managed landscapes. Home to one of the largest expanses of eucalyptus in the world, Portugal is also one of Europe’s top exporters of paper products. Uninterrupted fields of eucalyptus monoculture are a common sight. According to a 2009 pulp industry report, around 80% of these plantations are either mismanaged or not managed at all. The same report predicted that one in every four years would bring significant forest fire losses.
Fires are becoming more intense, deadly, and unpredictable. They draw much attention from the media, eager to cover the tragedy but quick to depart the scene when the embers have stopped glowing. The most recent, in August 2025, was the largest ever recorded in the country, with over 60,000 hectares burned.
A young boy alongside his relatives tries to contain a wildfire in the village of Porto Castanheiro in Arganil Coimbra region This village was affected by the Piod o wildfire the worst fire ever recorded in Portugal with more than 60 thousand hectares of burnt area August 2025
A firefighter of the Lagares da Beira corporation puts out a fire in an agricultural shed in Vila Pouca da Beira Oliveira do Hospital This region was deeply affected by the 2017 wildfire with 90 of its territory burnt In August 2025 many areas that had been affected were burnt again August 2025
A Fireboss airplane drops a load of water as hundreds of birds fly as the Piod o wildfire reached the village of Porto Castanheiro in Arganil Coimbra region The Piod o wildfire was considered the worst fire ever recorded in Portugal with more than 60 thousand hectares of burnt area August 2025
A exhausted firefigther looks on as the fire burns through the mountains near the village of Porto Castanheiro in Arganil Coimbra region The Piod o wildfire was considered the worst fire ever recorded in Portugal with more than 60 thousand hectares of burnt area August 2025
A fire burns out of control through an invasive patch of Acacia trees in the gueda region of Portugal September 2024
The burned down landscape in Albergaria-a-Velha Aveiro Portugal on the 25th of September 2024
Victor Manuel dos Santos 59 exits a part of his home that almost went up in flames on the outskirts of Albergaria-a-Velha Aveiro Portugal on the 25th of September 2024
A car repair shop which was razed by wildfires in the village of Arcas in Trancoso Portugal This was the second time the business went up in flames with the same having happened in 2003 September 2025
Tiago Dias poses for a portrait in his family s car repair shop which was razed by wildfires in the village of Arcas in Trancoso Portugal This was the second time the business went up in flames with the same having happened in 2003 September 2025
The village of S Jorge da Beira was surrounded by flames on all sides in August from the Piod o wildfire fire It was considered the worst fire ever recorded in Portugal with more than 60 thousand hectares of burnt area September 2025
M rio Silva beekeeper poses for a portrait near his dozens of affected beehives He lost more than 20 to the Piod o wildfire which was considered the worst fire ever recorded in Portugal with more than 60 thousand hectares of burnt area September 2025
A women takes her granddaughter through the village of S Jorge da Beira which was surrounded by flames on all sides in August from the Piod o wildfire fire It was considered the worst fire ever recorded in Portugal with more than 60 thousand hectares of burnt area September 2025