Authorities have formally identified the second victim recovered from a house destroyed by fire in the northern Greece settlement of Liti, in the Oreokastro municipality west of Thessaloniki, bringing a tragic conclusion to an incident that has shocked the local community.
The victim was confirmed to be the family’s 12-year-old son, according to the state broadcaster ERT. The boy’s body was found severely burned inside the residence, reportedly curled up in a corner of the house where investigators believe a piece of furniture had stood. At the time of the discovery, his mother was receiving treatment for severe burns at Thessaloniki’s Hippocratic Hospital.
The identification comes as Greece remains on heightened alert for wildfires, with authorities warning that prolonged heat, dry vegetation and strong winds continue to create dangerous conditions across much of the country. Recent days have seen multiple wildfire outbreaks nationwide, prompting an elevated state of readiness and reinforcing concerns over another demanding fire season.
Wildfire Breaks Out on Methana Peninsula
Meanwhile, a wildfire broke out Wednesday afternoon in an agricultural and semi-forested area near Agios Georgios on the Methana peninsula in northeastern Peloponnese, southern Greece, triggering a major firefighting response.
Civil protection authorities issued an emergency 112 mobile alert urging residents to remain on standby and follow official instructions.
The fire brigade deployed 38 firefighters, including a specialized ground team from the 9th Forest Commando Unit, backed by 15 fire engines. Two firefighting aircraft and one helicopter were conducting water drops, while municipal water tankers were assisting ground operations.
The incident comes as emergency services remain on high alert across Greece amid elevated wildfire danger, with prevention, rapid detection and early intervention forming the core of this year’s civil protection strategy.
Satellite Monitoring Strengthens Forest Protection
As Greece faces another challenging wildfire season, researchers have completed the country’s first national satellite-based forest monitoring system, designed to improve wildfire prevention, forest management and environmental protection.
Developed through the SAT4FOREST – Forest Monitoring Service research project, coordinated by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with support from the Greek Space Center and the European Space Agency, the platform entered its final phase after launching in August 2024.
The system provides two core services: nationwide mapping of forest types and combustible vegetation to assess wildfire vulnerability, and continuous monitoring of forest ecosystems and protected Natura 2000 areas.
Using advanced satellite imagery and remote sensing technologies, the platform identifies forest species, biodiversity and fuel loads while detecting environmental pressures and risks affecting individual ecosystems. The data are intended to support the central forest service, regional forestry directorates, forest offices, the ministries responsible for environment and civil protection, as well as research institutions and organizations developing wildfire risk maps and fire-spread simulations.
The new platform forms part of a broader effort to modernize Greece’s wildfire preparedness through improved surveillance, early warning capabilities and technology-driven forest management as authorities seek to reduce the impact of increasingly frequent and intense fire seasons.
