Fatal Bulldozer Incident Underlines Rising Wildfire Crisis in Portugal

Wed Oct 22 2025 11:51:22 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A tragic accident involving a firefighter operating a bulldozer has intensified concerns over the ongoing wildfire crisis in Portugal.

A 65-year-old man lost his life when he was run over by his bulldozer while combating wildfires in northern Portugal, marking the third death linked to the fires that have devastated the region since July. With rising temperatures and a surge in wildfires across southern Europe, authorities are urging caution as they grapple with the devastating effects of climate change.

A man has tragically died after being run over by a bulldozer he was operating while battling wildfires in Portugal. This incident brings the death toll in the country due to wildfires to three, as confirmed by officials. The deceased, a 65-year-old, was employed by a firm engaged in firefighting efforts in the northern municipality of Mirandela. Reports indicate that he fell from his vehicle while attempting to escape the advancing flames, leading to the fatal accident.

Portugal has been grappling with wildfires since late July, with the northern and central areas experiencing the most severe outbreaks. The situation is mirrored in neighboring Spain, where wildfires have claimed four lives and consumed an area larger than Long Island in New York. Although temperatures have started to decline after an extended period of extreme heat spanning 16 days, the threat remains significant.

Wildfires have also erupted in Greece, France, Turkey, and the Balkans, as Europe faces a heatwave that meteorologists attribute to human-induced climate change, making extreme weather events more common and severe. According to reports from Portuguese news agency AFP, around 15 individuals sustained injuries, with one in critical condition, while combating fires near Sabugal on Tuesday.

Local media in Spain has noted that despite a slight drop in temperatures, approximately 40 fires remain active. The most intense heat, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several regions, has subsided, yet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez continues to urge the public to “exercise extreme caution” during these critical hours.

This year alone, an estimated 373,000 hectares have been scorched in Spain, as reported by the European Forest Fire Information System. Numerous villages have been evacuated due to the encroaching blazes. Isidoro, an 83-year-old resident of Galicia, described a harrowing escape from the flames in the Ourense province, stating, “We had to run away because the fire was coming in from everywhere - above us, below us, all around.”

In Spain, numerous fires have been triggered by dry lightning storms, though authorities suspect arson in some instances. The interior ministry has arrested 32 individuals and initiated 188 investigations, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

Both Spain and Portugal have enacted the European Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency assistance as the wildfires rage on. While wildfires are a common sight in southern Europe during summer months, their intensity is exacerbated by ongoing heatwave conditions that pose a persistent threat.