Satellite images showed the devastation left behind after wildfires ripped through Europe this summer, with successive heatwaves fuelled by climate change intensifying drought and leaving vegetation tinder-dry.

From France and Spain to Greece, fires have killed more than 20 people, forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes and burned 576,000 hectares (2,225 square miles) across Europe this year, data from the European Forest Fire Information System shows - an area twice the size of Luxembourg.

In Greece, an elderly couple died at the weekend as fires swept through the island of Salamina, where 500 people were evacuated by ferry after wind pushed the flames into residential areas.

Extreme fire risk has become a regular part of European summers in recent years, as hotter, drier weather caused by climate change has combined with other factors – including rural abandonment, which has left land untended and allowed flammable, dry vegetation to build up in forests – to fuel fast-spreading fires.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Aerial imagery reveals extent of devastation after wildfires in Serbia, Croatia and Greece. Images credit: Planet Labs PBC

VIDEO SHOWS: SATELLITE IMAGES DEVASTATION IN CROATIA, SERBIA AND GREECE BEFORE AND AFTER WILDFIRES

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RESENDING WITH TWO ADDITIONAL WIDE SATELLITE IMAGES FROM CROATIA (SHOT 1 AND SHOT 2 IN THE SHOTLIST)

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: ZADAR, CROATIA (AUGUST 11, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

1. BEFORE SATELLITE IMAGE OF LAND

ZADAR, CROATIA (AUGUST 17, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

2. AFTER SATELLITE IMAGE OF LARGE PATCH OF BURNT LAND AFTER WILDFIRE

ZADAR, CROATIA (AUGUST 11, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

3. ZOOMED-IN BEFORE SATELLITE IMAGE OF LAND

ZADAR, CROATIA (AUGUST 17, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

4. ZOOMED-IN AFTER SATELLITE IMAGE OF LARGE PATCH OF BURNT LAND AFTER WILDFIRE

DUBOVAC, SERBIA (JULY 28, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC)(MUTE)

5. BEFORE SATELLITE IMAGE OF LAND

DUBOVAC, SERBIA (AUGUST 18, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

6. AFTER SATELLITE IMAGE OF LARGE PATCH OF BURNT LAND AFTER WILDFIRE

SALAMINA, GREECE (AUGUST 4, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

7. BEFORE SATELLITE IMAGE OF GREEN LAND AND COASTLINE

SALAMINA, GREECE (AUGUST 17, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

8. AFTER SATELLITE IMAGE OF BURNT LAND AFTER WILDFIRE

SALAMINA, GREECE (AUGUST 4, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

9. ZOOMED-IN BEFORE SATELLITE IMAGE OF GREEN LAND AND COASTLINE

SALAMINA, GREECE (AUGUST 17, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

10. ZOOMED-IN AFTER SATELLITE IMAGE OF BURNT LAND AFTER WILDFIRE