Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate Greek coastal resorts as ferocious wildfires ravaged the countryside, fanned by powerful winds. Evacuation orders were issued for at least six seaside towns as two major fires advanced towards populated areas, driven by gusts of up to 45 mph. Holiday homes have been destroyed, main roads closed, and individuals rescued from the ongoing blaze. Evacuees sought refuge along the coastline or were provided accommodation in schools and hotels.
The coast guard was dispatched to the smoke-filled beachfront to aid in the evacuation efforts. Water-dropping planes and helicopters worked tirelessly to combat the flames near Lagonisi, located approximately 25 miles southeast of Athens, before nightfall on Monday. A second large fire broke out in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki, situated 55 miles west of the capital. Local officials confirmed the evacuation of a children’s summer camp and a rehabilitation centre for the elderly.
The firefighting operation has been hindered by strong and unpredictable winds, as well as the mountainous terrain, slowing down progress. Yiannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the fire service, stated that the conditions are continuously changing, necessitating a flexible response and multiple evacuations.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while visiting Brussels, acknowledged the extreme challenges posed by the wildfires this month. He described the situation as “extremely difficult” and attributed the intensification of fires to the effects of the climate crisis.
Greater Athens and large parts of southern Greece have been placed on the second-highest level of wildfire alert for Monday and Tuesday. The country has endured a four-day heatwave, which temporarily subsided over the weekend but is expected to return with even more extreme temperatures later in the week. Individuals residing in areas affected by the fires received mobile phone alerts from the Civil Protection Ministry to ensure their safety.
Loutraki Mayor Giorgos Gionis mentioned that municipal workers are providing assistance to senior citizens during the evacuations. However, operational difficulties have been encountered due to mobile reception outages. The situation remains challenging as firefighters and authorities work diligently to contain the wildfires and protect lives and properties.
