Μake us preferred on Google Greece placed six regions on maximum fire alert on Sunday as a combination of extreme heat, prolonged drought, and strengthening gale-force winds created what authorities described as explosive and dangerous conditions for wildfire ignition and spread.
The National Civil Protection Mechanism activated a full Red Code mobilization for August 9, with fire risk classified at Category 4 — the highest level — across large parts of the country, according to the General Secretariat for Civil Protection’s daily fire risk forecast.
“The strengthening of northerly and northeasterly winds over the Aegean and eastern mainland areas to intensities reaching six to seven and locally eight to nine Beaufort, combined with vegetation already in an extremely flammable state, means ignition will be very easy and, combined with the very high and gale-force winds, spread will be rapid,” said fire meteorologist Thodoris Giannaros.
The regions placed on red alert are Attica, including the island of Kythira; Crete; the Peloponnese regional units of Corinthia, Argolida, Arcadia, and Laconia; the Central Greece regional units of Boeotia, Phthiotis, and Evia; the North Aegean regional units of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria; and the South Aegean regional unit of the Cyclades.
Authorities urged the public to exercise extreme caution, avoid any activity that could spark a fire, and report any outbreak immediately to emergency services.
