Firestorm in Halkidiki: Tourists Flee by Sea and Land
The wildfire that hit Siviri on Thursday reached the first houses, and authorities issued an evacuation order via the 112 emergency system
The wildfire that hit Siviri on Thursday reached the first houses, and authorities issued an evacuation order via the 112 emergency system
A large forest fire broke out on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in the town of Siviri in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece, forcing tourists and residents to flee by land and sea. The fire brigade issued an evacuation alert through the 112 emergency system, and the fire, driven by strong winds, quickly spread toward nearby settlements at the height of the tourist season.
According to Euronews, the flames reached the first houses in Siviri shortly after 4:30 PM local time. Following the initial alert to residents and those near the fire front, a second alert ordered the evacuation of the wider area around Siviri toward Kassandreia. An evacuation order was also issued for the settlement of Fourka.
The evacuation of people from Siviri beach began shortly after 5:00 PM. The Hellenic Coast Guard, with the assistance of private vessels, organized the transport of people from the beach. Two Coast Guard vessels and nine private boats were on site, and the fast ferry Speedrunner Jet also arrived to assist in the evacuation, Euronews reports.
More than 140 firefighters are involved in extinguishing the fire, according to data from the fire brigade reported by the Straits Times. Euronews, however, states that a total of 110 firefighters are participating in the operation, along with three teams from the 2nd Special Unit for Forest Operations (EMODE) and 33 fire engines. The sources do not agree on the exact number of firefighters, which may be due to different phases of the operation or counting methods.
Among the deployed forces are 12 firefighters from Moldova with three vehicles, who are in Greece as part of the European program for the pre-positioning of firefighting resources. Nine aircraft and seven helicopters are fighting the fire from the air, with additional support from water tankers from the Kassandra municipality. One firefighter has been injured, and traffic has been halted, according to the Straits Times.
"Our efforts are focused on extinguishing the fire and safely transporting people," said fire brigade spokesperson Giannis Artopios to Protothema.
Deputy Regional Governor of Halkidiki, Giannis Koufidis, has issued a decision banning pedestrian and all vehicle movement in forested areas of the Kassandra, Sithonia, and Aristotle municipalities due to the high risk of forest fires. The ban is expected to be in effect from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on August 14 in several areas of the Kassandra and Sithonia municipalities.
Checks will be conducted at the entrances to forest roads with police assistance, and those present will be removed, with the exception of members of volunteer organizations participating in fire protection operations of the Halkidiki Regional Unit. Violating the order carries an administrative fine of 300 euros. According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the fire broke out after strong winds knocked down an electrical pole, causing a spark, as reported by the public broadcaster ERT.
