Greek emergency services were battling multiple wildfires on Saturday afternoon as the country endured the peak of a week-long heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 45°C.
One of the most critical fire fronts was near Drosopigi in northern Attica, about 30 kilometres from Athens. Authorities ordered the evacuation of the village as flames neared homes. According to state broadcaster Ertnews, at least one house was already engulfed, while strong winds of 5 to 6 on the Beaufort scale intensified the spread.
The national civil protection agency had placed several regions under Category 5—the highest wildfire risk alert—due to extreme heat and dry conditions. The heatwave, which began on Monday, is forecast to persist until the following Monday, according to the country’s weather service.
The National Observatory in Athens reported Friday’s highest temperature at 45.8°C in Messinia, Peloponnese, and 45.2°C in Amfilochia, western Greece, on Saturday.
Around Drosopigi, 100 firefighters, 36 vehicles, two aircraft, and three helicopters were deployed, according to the Athens News Agency.
On Evia island, near Attica, a separate fire was raging out of control. Two fire engines were destroyed, and two firefighters sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized.
Another major wildfire broke out shortly before 9:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on the island of Kythera, in southern Greece, burning through agricultural and forested areas. Strong winds forced the evacuation of several settlements. Reinforcements, including 16 firefighters and six fire engines, were dispatched to assist local crews.
In Messinia, a fire that started at 12:08 p.m. rapidly escalated. Currently, 84 firefighters and 30 fire trucks are working on containment, supported by seven aircraft and two helicopters.
Large areas of Attica, Evia, and the Peloponnese remain on high alert as the extreme weather continues to fuel dangerous fire conditions across the country.
