Wildfires continued to ravage Greece on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of entire villages, destroying homes, and scorching over 10,000 hectares of land. Vehicles and property have been engulfed in flames as firefighters struggle to contain the blazes.
Screenshot from Greek Times X account
Blazes threatened towns and villages near the western city of Patras and spread to the tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos. Since Tuesday, the fires have consumed houses, farms, and factories, prompting mass evacuations of residents and tourists alike, as reported by Reuters.
Dozens of people have been hospitalised with smoke inhalation, while 13 firefighters suffered burns and other injuries, according to fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.
Nearly 5,000 firefighters, supported by 33 aircraft, have been deployed to battle the flames fueled by strong winds and hot, dry conditions.
“Today will be another very difficult day, with wildfire risk remaining extremely high across much of the country,” Vathrakogiannis warned. Temperatures in some areas were expected to reach 34°C (93°F).
Parts of Greece, including the tourist islands of Chios and Zakhynthos, burned in an uncontrolled wildfire that torched homes, olive groves and forests, and quickly spread across the industrial zone of Patra https://t.co/jb1sm3j8ZW pic.twitter.com/uzsvjbAl5F
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 13, 2025
Near Patras, flames and thick smoke engulfed a cement factory as wildfires swept through olive groves and forests, disrupting rail traffic. Volunteer firefighter Giorgos Karavanis described the scene as “doomsday,” adding, “We can’t do anything more. May God help us and the people here.”
🔥 Achaia in flames.
From the water, the destruction is undeniable — thick smoke, scorched hillsides, and a coastline shrouded in fire’s shadow. A sobering reminder of the devastation Greece faces right now. 🇬🇷💔#Achaia #GreeceFires #Wildfires #PrayForGreece pic.twitter.com/8saJy9QCVh— Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) August 13, 2025
Authorities ordered the evacuation of a town of 7,700 residents near Patras on Tuesday and issued new alerts for two nearby villages on Wednesday. On Chios, the coast guard used boats to ferry people to safety as fires reached the shoreline.
The wildfires come amid a scorching European heatwave, which has also ignited blazes in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and the Balkans, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F). In Albania and Montenegro, wildfires have already destroyed homes and personal property since last week.
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