Greek authorities declared a state of emergency on the island of Chios on Monday as wildfires continued to rage for a third day, fuelled by strong winds and soaring temperatures.
Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis said the move would enable officials to “immediately take necessary measures” to contain the fires, while government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis urged residents to exercise “maximum caution” and follow evacuation orders.
Located in the northern Aegean, Chios—Greece’s fifth-largest island—is battling five separate fire fronts. Some 190 firefighters, backed by 38 fire engines, 12 helicopters, and four water bombers, have been deployed, according to the fire service.
Kefalogiannis, speaking from the island, described the situation as “very difficult” due to Beaufort scale force-six winds, adding, “If the wind drops, we may gain control—but so far, it hasn’t.”
On Sunday, hundreds of asylum seekers were relocated from a reception centre, while seven villages were evacuated on Monday as the fires edged closer to fields of prized mastic trees—a key local crop used in food, liquor, and pharmaceuticals. The resin-producing tree is a UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage product unique to Chios.
Wildfires are a recurring threat in Greece, especially during dry, windy summers worsened by climate change. A heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) is forecast in the coming days, including in Athens.
