A wildfire that broke out Thursday afternoon on the Kassandra Peninsula in Halkidiki, northern Greece, was spreading rapidly under gusty winds, with the blaze’s front extending for more than two kilometers and authorities issuing a series of evacuation alerts.
The blaze began shortly after 2:30 p.m. near an amphitheater in Siviri.
Firefighters initially attempted to contain it in a ravine, but the flames moved into a nearby dense pine forest, crossing a ridge and descending rapidly toward lower-lying areas.
Flames reportedly reached heights of 20 to 30 meters in the dense pine forest, while the fire approached scattered holiday homes, prompting their evacuation. A hotel at the coastal Fourka site housing children from Ukraine was also evacuated.
Residents and visitors attempted to leave the area in large numbers, causing severe traffic congestion on the limited road network. Other residents gathered on Fourka beach as the fire approached.
A total of 110 firefighters are operating at the scene, supported by three special forest-firefighting teams and 33 vehicles. The force includes 12 firefighters from Moldova with three vehicles who are in Greece as part of the European Union’s pre-positioning program for firefighters.
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Six aircraft and two helicopters have been deployed for aerial firefighting, while water tankers from the municipality of Kassandra are assisting ground teams.
Strong winds, dense vegetation and difficult terrain are hampering the operation. The lack of forest roads and trails has made it difficult for ground teams to approach parts of the fire front, while a large cloud of black smoke is restricting visibility for aircraft crews.
The Kassandra Peninsula is the westernmost of Halkidiki’s three major peninsulas, extending into the northern Aegean Sea and containing extensive pine forests alongside some of northern Greece’s busiest summer resorts. The region has faced heightened wildfire concerns this summer, with authorities imposing restrictions on access to forest areas in Halkidiki earlier this month because of elevated fire danger.
The current blaze is developing as Greece remains under heightened wildfire vigilance after a series of fires in recent days. Strong northerly winds have repeatedly complicated firefighting operations across the country, with wind speeds in some affected areas reaching 40-50 kph and gusts exceeding 90-100 kph.
The fire broke out on a day when the area was rated category 4, or very high, for wildfire danger. Authorities have sent repeated 112 emergency alerts to people in affected areas, initially urging them to remain ready to follow official instructions and subsequently ordering evacuations from specific locations.
