A huge wildfire that broke out on Sunday on the island of Chios is raging for a second day as a large firefighting force continues its efforts to control three fronts.

Approximately 2.5 acres of forest are estimated to have been incinerated, while livestock were also burned. At least three houses were destroyed.

The Minister of Climate Change, Giannis Kefalogiannis, has arrived on the island to assess the situation. The island has been declared in a state of emergency, while the settlements of Agios Georgios Sykousis, Dafnonas, Agia Paraskevi Karyon, Vessa, Elata, and Armolia have been evacuated.

Satellite Image of fire fronts 

Under the headline “Villages Evacuated on Greek Tourist Island Due to Wildfires,” The New York Times published an extensive report on the devastating fires on the island of Chios. The American newspaper notes that the island has been declared a state of emergency and that several villages have been evacuated as a result of the ongoing blazes.

The most serious flare-up was reported in the settlement of Agios Georgios, with the blaze burning in inaccessible areas, hindering the firefighting operations.

Meanwhile, fire crews are battling to bring under full control the wildfire that broke out in Karavostasi, in the municipality of Monemvasia, Laconia.

A total of 72 firefighters are operating in the area, supported by 21 fire engines, six ground teams, eight aircraft, and one helicopter. According to residents, wind conditions began to ease after 6:00 p.m., aiding the firefighting efforts and resulting in a notably improved situation by early evening.

Minister Kefalogiannis stated that the authorities are seriously examining the possibility of foul play, specifically an organized criminal act of arson. He added that, since yesterday, emergency services have been battling simultaneous wildfires “in multiple, geographically unconnected locations across the island — a pattern that cannot be seen as coincidental.”