A wildfire broke out in Greece on Thursday afternoon, with 142 firefighters on the ground supported by air assets. Authorities have raised alert to the highest level, with winds of up to 100 km/h forecast for Friday.
A large wildfire broke out on Thursday afternoon in the tourist region of Halkidiki in northern Greece, prompting the mobilization of significant air power and the evacuation of tourists. Firefighters announced on platform X that 142 firefighters and 51 vehicles are on the ground, supported by nine aircraft and seven helicopters.
The fire has engulfed wooded terrain approximately 90 kilometers south of Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city. Civil protection has issued three evacuation orders covering the areas of Siviri and Fourka, where a large number of guests are currently present.
According to footage from public broadcaster ERT, tourists on Fourka beach, still in swimwear and holding children, began calmly evacuating by sea. Many headed to the pier to be taken to safety by boat, while thick smoke darkened the sky over the resort.
Fifteen smaller vessels have been deployed to transport all those in need, and the operation is proceeding without panic and in an orderly manner. A large number of cars also attempted to flee the area, causing long traffic jams.
According to ERT, the fire front spans three kilometers, with flames reaching heights of 20 to 30 meters in the dense pine forest. "The fire broke out in low vegetation and continues to rage out of control; flames are approaching homes," ERT reported.
Volunteer firefighter Themis Ierissiotis, interviewed by ERT, stated: "The front is advancing toward the sea, and about 70 percent of people have been evacuated from the area."
"The wind is very strong, which is contributing to the rapid spread of the fire near residential areas in Siviri and Fourka. Conditions are extreme and leave us very little time to react," Stratos Gitsoudis, president of the Panhellenic Association of Forest Firefighters, told ERT.
Authorities were on the highest alert on Thursday due to extreme fire danger, level five, the highest, specifically declared for Attica, central Greece, and Halkidiki. In Halkidiki, local authorities have imposed a complete ban on movement in forested areas.
According to civil protection, the fire risk remains very high on Friday, with expected wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour. As tourists from Serbia vacationing in Greece report, the fire broke out in the town of Siviri on the Halkidiki peninsula.
