Greece is facing another day of intense wildfires, with multiple fronts burning from the mainland to the islands. In the past three days alone, more than 230 fires have broken out, fueled by strong winds and scorching summer conditions.

Authorities warning of extreme danger in multiple regions, including Attica (Athens area), the Peloponnese, Western and Central Greece, the Ionian Islands, and parts of northern and eastern Greece.

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a high-risk fire alert (category 4), as strong winds and dry conditions threaten to worsen existing blazes and spark new ones.

The situation in Greece comes amid a wider wildfire crisis in southern Europe, with major fires also reported in Albania, Turkey, Spain, and Portugal.

Latest Updates:

  • Preveza / Ziros: The fire continues along a 30 km front. While authorities report the blaze is more manageable, evacuations remain in effect for several villages and a refugee facility. Power cuts persist, and livestock losses have been reported.
  • Patras, Achaea: Firefighting efforts continue in Tsoukaleika, Vrachnaiika, and Moireika, with industrial and residential damage. Urban fires required rescue operations for trapped residents.
  • Chios: Evacuations were carried out overnight in northwest areas. A second fire at a waste transfer station was quickly contained. Coast Guard assisted in evacuations from Limnia.
  • Zakynthos: Fires near four villages triggered evacuations toward Zakynthos Town. Damage includes 5–6 homes and several farm buildings; one hotel evacuated.
  • Kefalonia: Atheras area fire threatens forest and farmland; evacuations ordered in nearby villages.
  • Vonitsa, Aetolia-Acarnania: Fires near Paliampela and Mesolongi caused property loss and precautionary evacuations.
  • Ioannina, Epirus: Fire in Protópapas area contained to forested slopes; no evacuations reported.
  • Attica:
    • Megara: Fire near Agios Konstantinos now under control; minimal damage.
    • Koropi: Localized fire caused by vehicle crash; one death reported.
  • Infrastructure Updates:
    • OSE CEO inspecting fire damage to railway network in Achaea.
    • Partial closure of Ionian Motorway and old Ioannina–Arta road.
  • Health Impact: EKAB reports 62 cases (respiratory issues, minor burns). Some local health centers temporarily affected by power/water cuts.

Overnight Updates

Preveza (Epirus Region)

  • Current situation: A fire in the municipality of Ziros has spread along an estimated 30 km front, destroying homes in Agios Georgios and Pantanassa. Power cuts are widespread, with explosions from gas tanks in livestock facilities. Livestock losses are reported. Several villages, including a refugee reception facility, have been evacuated. Authorities are cautiously optimistic as blaze seems more manageable.
  • Aerial assets: 5 firefighting planes and 2 helicopters are targeting multiple fronts.
  • Impact: Homes, farmland, and infrastructure destroyed; partial closure of the Ionian Motorway and the old Ioannina–Arta road.

Patras, Achaea (Western Greece)

  • Wildfires: Fires in Tsoukaleika, Vrachnaiika, Moireika, and surrounding rural areas have burned homes and factories. Two industrial buildings in the Patras industrial zone were destroyed, along with hundreds of vehicles in a storage yard. Parts of the Patras ring road remain closed.
  • Urban incident: A separate apartment building fire in Patras prompted rescue operations amid reports of trapped residents.
  • Aerial assets: 7 planes and 5 helicopters assisting ground units.
  • Impact: Significant property loss, industrial damage, and urban evacuations.

Chios (North Aegean)

  • Current situation: Areas in the northwest were evacuated overnight. Damage includes forest, farmland, homes, livestock facilities, warehouses, vehicles, small chapels, and shops near the port. Power outages followed damage to a local substation.
  • Second blaze: Just after midnight, a second fire broke out at a waste transfer station but was quickly contained.
  • Aerial assets: 5 helicopters operating over mountainous terrain.
  • Impact: Coast guard evacuated residents from Limnia by sea. Arson investigation team deployed.

wildfire Chios island greece

Zakynthos (Ionian Islands)

  • Current situation: Fires affecting rural and forested areas near four villages have triggered evacuation orders toward Zakynthos Town.
  • Aerial assets: 2 planes and 1 helicopter tackling the blaze in difficult, hilly terrain.
  • Impact: At least 5–6 homes and several farm buildings damaged; one hotel evacuated.

Kefalonia (Ionian Islands)

  • Current situation: A fire broke out in the Atheras area early Wednesday, threatening farmland and forest.
  • Aerial assets: 2 planes assisting 32 firefighters and volunteers.
  • Impact: Evacuations ordered in several nearby villages.

Vonitsa (Aetolia-Acarnania)

  • Current situation: Fire in Paliampela area moving toward commercial sites after destroying at least one home. Separate blaze near Mesolongi led to evacuation from Stamna village.
  • Aerial assets: Supported by regional planes and helicopters.
  • Impact: Property loss and precautionary evacuations.

Ioannina (Epirus)

  • Current situation: Fire in the Protópapas area of the mountains.
  • Aerial assets: 1 helicopter operating in steep, remote terrain.
  • Impact: Contained to forested slopes; no evacuations reported.

Megara (Attica)

  • Current situation: Fire near Agios Konstantinos prompted evacuation alerts, but flames were stopped before reaching the main settlement. The fire is now under control.
  • Aerial assets: 1 helicopter in support.
  • Impact: Minimal structural damage.

Koropi (Attica)

  • Current situation: A man died when his vehicle crashed into an auto parts shop, igniting a fire in the building.
  • Impact: Localized incident; blaze extinguished by 11 firefighters.

National Risk Outlook:
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection warns of very high wildfire danger in Attica, the Peloponnese, Western Greece, Epirus, Ionian Islands, Central Greece, Northern Aegean, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and parts of Central Macedonia. Strong winds are expected to persist, keeping the risk level elevated.