A wildfire in northern Greece forced hundreds of holidaymakers to flee into the sea on Thursday, August 13. The blaze, described as a three-kilometre wall of flames up to 30 metres high, threatened homes near the popular resorts of Siviri and Fourka on the Halkidiki peninsula, south of Thessaloniki.
More than 200 firefighters, along with water-bombing planes and helicopters, battled the fire. Hundreds of people in swimwear, many carrying children, were evacuated by small boats and coast guard and fire brigade vessels, according to fire service officials and local TV.
Where are the wildfires in Greece right now?
Large parts of southern Greece are at 'extreme' or 'very high' risk of wildfires, with risk zones expected to expand as temperatures rise. Greek authorities declared a category 4 threat on Monday in several regions, including Greater Athens, Attica, Crete, and the Peloponnese.
Europe is suffering its hottest summer on record, with average temperatures 2.79C higher than the 1991 to 2020 average. While heatwaves create tinderbox conditions, experts say other factors are also at play.
What is causing the fires?
Wildfires started by sparks from the state electricity grid have reportedly been responsible for as much as 75% of the land burned in Greece this year, according to data from the Fire Service's Arson Crimes Directorate. The research raises questions about the safety of Greece's infrastructure in fire-prone areas, and the austerity measures that have seen massive cuts to fire prevention staff over the last decade.
UK Foreign Office travel advice
The UK Foreign Office warns British citizens of a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. They advise travellers to register for official emergency alerts, which warn of wildfires near your location. This can be done on iPhones by enabling 'Emergency Alerts' in Settings > Notifications, and on Android 11 and higher via Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts. On Samsung devices, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Emergency Notifications.
The Foreign Office urges travellers to be responsible and self-aware. To avoid starting fires, they ask everyone to collect litter (especially glass), make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished, and not to light barbecues. If you are in immediate danger, call the Greek emergency services on 112.
The FCDO also recommends having a grab bag ready with essentials such as passports, mobile phones, money, insurance documents, and essential medicine.
