Greece is in the grip of a wildfire emergency, with five major blazes sweeping across the country during an intense heatwave. Temperatures are soaring to 44°C, worsening the situation as strong winds spread the fires rapidly. The government has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, requesting six additional firefighting aircraft.
North of Athens, fires have forced evacuations in areas like Afidnes, Drosopigi, Kryoneri, and Agios Stefanos. Though some progress has been made, hotspots remain, and over 200 firefighters are still tackling the flames. Climate Crisis Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis confirmed injuries, property loss, and large-scale forest destruction.
On the island of Evia, fires near Pissona are out of control, damaging power lines and cutting electricity in several villages. In Kythira, a wildfire has caused mass evacuations, and the coastguard rescued 139 people stranded on Limnionas beach. Meanwhile, new fires have broken out in Messinia and Crete, destroying homes and prompting fresh evacuation orders.
Emergency alerts have been issued for many regions, including the Ionian Islands, Attica, Crete, and Macedonia. These fires come after earlier blazes in Chios and Crete that burned thousands of hectares and disrupted tourism. Authorities are urging caution and international support as the country endures one of its worst wildfire seasons in years.
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