Several major wildfires broke out Saturday across different parts of Greece, with the island of Evia, Messinia in the Peloponnese, the island of Kythera, and Thessaloniki in northern Greece facing simultaneous blazes. Firefighters are battling intense flames on multiple fronts, with extreme conditions making operations perilous.
The most critical fire is burning out of control in Pissonas, a village on the foothills of the Dirfi mountain range, northeast of Halkida, Evia’s capital. A 112 emergency alert was issued, urging residents to evacuate toward Afrati. Thick smoke, extreme heat, and erratic winds have trapped fire engines – some already consumed by flames – while aerial units struggle to operate due to poor visibility. Livestock facilities in the area have sustained significant damage. Sixty firefighters, including two ground teams from the 20th Special Forest Operations Unit (EMODE), are battling the flames with the help of 18 fire engines, one helicopter, and two aircraft, alongside volunteers, municipal water trucks, and heavy machinery.
In Messinia, a forest fire in Polithea prompted three 112 alerts, including evacuations of the villages Kryoneri and Sellas. Two storage buildings have been damaged. The fire is being tackled by 84 firefighters, including two specialized ground teams from the 9th and 18th EMODE, 30 fire engines, seven aircraft, and two helicopters, with support from local resources.
On Kythera, three villages – Aroniadika, Pitsinades, and Araioi – were evacuated due to a large blaze in a rural and forested area. Twenty-eight firefighters, a ground team from the 9th EMODE, six fire engines, one helicopter, and two aircraft, along with volunteers, are working to contain the fire.
Meanwhile, in Arethousa, in Thessaloniki’s Volvi municipality, another wildfire broke out in an agroforestry zone. The fire has mobilized 65 firefighters, including two ground teams from the 2nd EMODE, 23 fire engines, two helicopters, and three aircraft, with additional assistance from municipal equipment.