The devastating wildfires raging uncontrollably along Turkey’s coastline are now making their presence felt far beyond the country’s borders. In several areas across Attica, Greece, residents have reported a strong smell of smoke in the air—an unusual phenomenon given the absence of local fires. The answer, however, lies many kilometers away: it’s the result of massive forest fires burning through coastal regions of neighboring Turkey.

A striking example came from meteorologist and wildfire expert Theodore Giannaros, who posted a photo on social media early Wednesday showing smoke visibly shrouding the peak of Mount Penteli, in Athens.

“The summit of Penteli was engulfed in smoke when we arrived at the Observatory this morning,” Giannaros noted, adding that one of the fires near the Dardanelles in Turkey remains active and difficult to contain.

Meanwhile, dramatic images of the smoke plumes were captured from the Greek island of Lesvos on Tuesday night. In the town of Molyvos, directly across from the Turkish coastline, the proximity made the haze particularly visible, painting an eerie picture of the transnational impact of the fires.

Turkey Battles Widespread Wildfires

Forest fires have erupted across multiple Turkish provinces, including Çanakkale, Edirne (Adrianople), and Konya. Authorities have ordered evacuations in two neighborhoods in Çanakkale and three in Tekirdağ (Raedestos), as flames threatened homes and infrastructure.

In Konya, one individual was arrested in connection with a fire outbreak, though the cause remains under investigation.

Turkey has been grappling with wildfires for several weeks now, battling to contain flare-ups that spread rapidly due to high temperatures and dry conditions. While many of the fires that broke out on Tuesday have since been brought under partial or full control, others remain active and continue to pose significant risks.