On Sunday morning, the latest wildfire that erupted near the south-central coastal town of Nafpaktos was reported as mostly contained, although an alert was sent to local residents via SMS at 6 a.m
Around 50 firefighters, supported by 15 fire trucks and volunteer responders, have been deployed to contain the blaze, with aerial support expected to arrive shortly
Saturday, June 28, is expected to bring critical fire weather conditions across many parts of Greece
Essential fire safety tips from Greece’s Civil Protection Agency to help protect yourself, your family, and your home.
Strong winds and soaring temperatures fuel a dangerous blaze in Palaia Fokaia, outside Athens, prompting evacuations and an emergency response meeting.
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a high fire risk warning (Risk Category 4) for several regions on Friday, June 27
As a result of the fire, traffic authorities have closed parts of the Athens–Sounio Avenue
As the situation escalated, authorities issued an emergency alert via the 112 emergency number shortly before 11:30 a.m., advising residents of the municipality of Phaistos to evacuate.
According to satellite data from the EU's Copernicus Emergency Management Service, the wildfire has scorched a total of 47,765 stremmata (approximately 11,800 acres)
Authorities are urging both residents and visitors in these regions to exercise extreme caution and avoid any actions that could trigger a fire
This current stretch of hot weather is expected to last at least four more days, peaking Friday, before a slight cooldown and wind increase arrives on Sunday
Authorities have warned that changing weather conditions and the wildfire's unpredictable behavior earlier in the week demand continued vigilance
As aerial and ground crews work tirelessly to maintain control, residents and responders alike are finally breathing a cautious sigh of relief
Chios remains under a state of emergency, which is currently set to last until July 22. With strong winds expected to persist for several more days, firefighting efforts are likely to continue under extremely difficult conditions
The current wildfire is the latest in a series of devastating blazes that have struck Chios in recent years, with significant fires also recorded in 2012 and 2016
The New York Times published an extensive report on the devastating fires on the island of Chios titled “Villages Evacuated on Greek Tourist Island as Wildfires Rage”
Despite reinforcements arriving from mainland cities such as Thessaloniki and Athens, the blaze remains largely out of control
Meanwhile, another fire that erupted earlier the same day, around 5:00 a.m., in Kato Asites, Heraklion municipality, in Crete, has now been brought under control.
Authorities have sent continuous evacuation alerts via the 112 emergency system to safeguard residents in affected zones
Residents battled flames overnight, meanwhile aerial firefighting begins on Chios