Wildfires have hit Mount Vesuvius as deadly blazes sweep through Europe amid a scorching heatwave.

Dramatic footage shows flames engulfing the volcano in Naples, Italy, as firefighters battle to control them.

The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon, and Firefighting teams both on the ground and in the air rushed to the scene.

But, as the sun set, the operation was temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

Raffaele De Luca, president of the Vesuvius National Park, expressed his deep concern about the fire’s progress. 

‘We are following every update in constant contact with the relevant authorities. 

‘Our gratitude goes to those who are working tirelessly to protect our natural heritage and ensure the safety of those who live nearby.’ 

The devastating wildfires have also struck Turkey, Greece, and France – triggered by hotter and drier conditions.

In the Keratea region of Greece, swift-moving flames, driven by strong winds, traversed scrub-covered hillsides, approaching residential zones roughly 25 miles southeast of Athens on Friday.

Mount Vesuvius is plagued by wildfires as lethal blazes sweep across Europe amidst a scorching heatwave. Pictured: A significant fire on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy, 08 August 2025

Dramatic footage shows flames engulfing the volcano in Naples, Italy , as firefighters battle to control the flames

The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon, and Firefighting teams both on the ground and in the air rushed to the scene

A tall column of smoke has risen into the sky and is visible from Naples

One man was found dead in Keratea during an evacuation, the Fire Service said.

According to France24.com, citing the Coastguard, two Vietnamese tourists lost their lives after falling into the water amid strong winds on the tourist island of Milos in the Cyclades.

Authorities said 190 firefighters, using planes and helicopters to drop water, battled the blazes as thick clouds of black smoke filled the sky. 

People were seen attempting to battle a raging blaze as flames and embers lit up the night sky near the town.

Despite the strenuous efforts of firefighting teams, backed by numerous aerial vehicles and volunteers, the fire remains uncontrolled due to strong winds.

Simultaneously, wildfires in neighboring Turkey led to the temporary closure of the Dardanelles Strait to shipping due to heavy smoke and decreased visibility in the narrow channel.

Furthermore, in the Canakkale province, a university campus and an elder care home were evacuated by authorities after a fire that began in a field near Saricaeli village rapidly spread to an adjacent forested area.

Three villages in Canakkale have been evacuated due to the fire.

Turkey, Greece, and France have also been struck by the devastating wildfires – triggered by hotter and drier conditions. Pictured:Residents look at flames as a wildfire rages near Palaia Fokaia, some 45 Km south of Athens, on August 8, 2025

A large wildfire breaks out in the town of Keratea near Athens, Greece, on August 8, 2025

Flames engulf the fields and woods near a home as a wildfire rages near Palaia Fokaia, some 45 Km south of Athens, on August 8

Several houses were damaged in the blaze, which continues to be battled by air and ground crews. 

Pictures show firefighting responding with aerial and ground operations to contain the blaze.

Firefighters in France who contained the country’s largest wildfire in decades are on high alert because it is feared forecast high temperatures this weekend could reignite it.

One person died as the blazes quickly burned more than 62 square miles in three days in the Aude wine region in southern France, where hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes.

Local authorities said they need to remain vigilant throughout the weekend because temperatures are expected to rise above 30C (86F) during another heatwave.

The fast-moving wildfire in southern France that broke out on Tuesday burned through some 13,000 hectares of land – a swathe as large as Paris.

People attempt to battle a raging wildfire as flames and embers light up the night sky near the town of Keratea, southeast of Athens, Greece on August 08, 2025

Firefighters conduct extinguishing works on the ground in the Bayramic district of Canakkale, Turkiye on August 8, 2025

Crews intervene in a wildfire, which spreads from farmland into forested areas in Canakkale, Turkiye on August 08, 2025

Firefighters conduct extinguishing works on the ground in the Bayramic district of Canakkale, Turkiye on August 8, 2025

One woman died in her home, nine others were injured, and at least one person was reported missing as about 2,000 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft battled the blaze that broke out in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is home to wineries.

‘It’s a scene of sadness and desolation,’ said Jacques Piraux, mayor of the village of Jonquières, where all residents have been evacuated.

‘It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. More than half or three-quarters of the village has burned down.’

It came after 1,500 tourists and locals were evacuated in Spain as a dramatic forest fire near a beach resort caused chaos in Tarifa, often branded a ‘surfer’s paradise’ due to its extremely wide beaches and tall waves.

According to the local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Peña campsite, which also had to be evacuated.

The flames then blew westward, away from the campsite, and spread rapidly through a hilly and grassland area where homes and tourist establishments are scattered – including the Wawa Hotel, which is reported to have been affected by the fire.

Several beach bars and ‘chiringuitos’ were also evacuated due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore.

The blaze was first reported at around 4pm on Tuesday.