Greece is facing a new wave of wildfires affecting both residential areas and tourist destinations. In Agios Vasileios, evacuations have been carried out by sea, while in Crete authorities are reporting thousands of people temporarily displaced amid flames, strong winds and high temperatures.
Boat evacuations in Agios Vasileios
Hundreds of people, mainly tourists, are being evacuated by boat from the coastal town of Agios Vasileios after a major wildfire spread rapidly toward the populated area.
According to Greek authorities, more than 200 people have already been moved to safety, while about 100 others are expected to be taken out by sea. Residents and visitors had initially been asked to move toward the inland part of the town, but the advance of the flames made that measure insufficient.
Around 500 people trapped by the fire
According to the official version, the fire broke out on Friday morning near Agios Vasileios, in the Viotia region, trapping around 500 people, most of them tourists.
The rapid spread of the flames, fueled by strong winds, pushed the operation toward evacuation by watercraft, a sign that the situation on the ground quickly moved beyond the initial control of emergency structures.
Crete under pressure, thousands displaced
On the island of Crete, firefighters are continuing operations to extinguish another major blaze, which has burned thousands of hectares of land.
According to authorities, around 8,000 people have been forced to temporarily leave their homes and tourist areas. Other fire outbreaks have also been reported on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos, while weather conditions are further complicating the response.
Wave of fires in southern Europe
Greece is not the only country facing this crisis. Portugal and Spain also remain under pressure from wildfires and extreme temperatures.
In Portugal, hundreds of firefighters are battling a blaze near Valpaços which, according to reports, has destroyed around 15,000 hectares of land, including vineyards and olive groves, while five people have been injured. In Spain, the fire in the Ávila region has been stabilized, but authorities are warning of a high risk of new outbreaks because of another heatwave.
Warnings over the cause and the risk
Scientists estimate that most fires are caused by human activity, while climate change is significantly increasing their frequency and intensity.
Turkey is also continuing to face forest fires. According to the Agriculture Ministry, four active fronts remain along the Mediterranean coast, including areas near Antalya, while a total of 206 fires have been recorded across the country since Wednesday.
The picture across the region points to an increasingly dangerous summer for Mediterranean countries, where the combination of extreme heat, winds and often strained emergency response is producing high costs for residents, tourism and the land.
In Greece, the focus remains on containing the active fire fronts and ensuring the safety of people near the affected areas.