Firefighters battled more than 50 wildfires across Greece on Sunday as authorities warned of heightened risks fueled by soaring temperatures and strong winds.
The most intense blaze broke out in a forested area of Argolida, on the Peloponnese peninsula, testing both aerial and ground firefighting teams. Earlier in the day, major fires near the coastal resort of Aliki and on the island of Evia were brought under control after threatening homes and burning through scrubland.
Evacuation warnings were issued in multiple locations as a precaution, according to the Fire Service.
No casualties were reported, despite more than 1,000 wildfires recorded nationwide since early June, said Costas Tsigkas, head of the Association of Greek Firefighter Officers. Speaking to state broadcaster ERT, Tsigkas urged the public to remain vigilant as high winds and temperatures increase the risk of rapid fire spread.
Since the start of the official fire season on May 1, authorities have arrested over 190 individuals in connection with wildfires, including 125 for negligent actions such as burning vegetation or using equipment that emits sparks.
With temperatures forecast to reach 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) by midweek, the National Meteorological Service warned of “critical” conditions ahead. Officials convened an emergency meeting Sunday at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, urging citizens to avoid fire-prone activities and closely monitor emergency updates.
High fire-risk alerts were issued for several regions as the extreme weather persisted.
On Crete, government representatives met with local officials to coordinate relief efforts after more than 5,000 residents and tourists were evacuated last week due to a major wildfire. The blaze was among the most severe this season, following a June fire on Chios island that burned more than 6,000 hectares.
In total, wildfires have scorched approximately 7,000 hectares across the country this year, according to the National Observatory of Athens.