Half of deadliest fires in the last decade - Study warns of global consequences of climate change
Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more destructive and more costly around the world. A new study, recently published in the journal Science, shows that almost half of the deadliest wildfires over the past 44 years have occurred in the past decade alone. This alarming increase is largely due to climate change, poor land management and the continued expansion of residential areas into fire-prone areas.
The researchers analyzed global disaster data for the period 1980 to 2023. They identified major fire disasters, events that caused at least 10 fatalities or that ranked among the 200 largest economic losses relative to the Gross Domestic Product of the respective countries. The results clearly show an alarming trend: fires are becoming more common and the damage they cause is increasing significantly.
While this trend is global, Europe has been particularly affected in recent years. Last summer saw record levels of damage on the continent, with Spain and Portugal among the hardest-hit countries. The fires in these countries have been described as “unprecedented” in intensity, fueled by increasingly extreme weather and prolonged droughts directly linked to climate change.
The study also finds that some regions are more vulnerable than others. Mediterranean forests, for example, experienced 6.7 times more major disasters than expected, based on population size. Meanwhile, North America saw the largest increase in absolute value of economic damage.
The study authors emphasize that this situation requires a new approach to fire management and a clear strategy for adapting to the risk. They emphasize the need to improve evacuation systems and better protect vulnerable population groups.
In response to the situation, the European Union has promised to increase capacities to fight fires and has proposed the establishment of a regional center in Cyprus, to help manage emergencies more effectively in Mediterranean countries.
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