Authorities in Greece have warned of a very high risk of wildfires on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, across several islands of the Aegean and in Crete. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has classified the threat level as Category 4 on its official wildfire risk map.
The areas under alert include:
- North Aegean Region: Samos and Ikaria
- South Aegean Region: Kalymnos, Kos, Rhodes, Karpathos
- Crete Region: Heraklion and Lasithi
Government services, regional authorities, and municipalities in these areas have been placed on high alert, while the Fire Service is also on standby to respond immediately to any incidents.
Public urged to avoid fire-starting activities
Citizens and visitors are being asked to exercise extreme caution and refrain from actions that could accidentally ignite fires. These include burning dry grass or branches, using outdoor grills, operating machinery that produces sparks, welding, smoking near vegetation, or discarding lit cigarettes.
Authorities also reminded the public that burning fields is strictly prohibited during the fire season. Anyone who sees signs of a wildfire is urged to call the Fire Service immediately on the emergency number 199.
