A series of wildfires has swept across Greece, forcing emergency evacuations and causing property damage as severe weather conditions continue to challenge responders. Authorities reported that more than 70 blazes have broken out across the country since Friday morning, fueled by a combination of high temperatures, dry conditions, and powerful winds.
The most significant fire is currently burning near the seaside town of Porto Germeno, located approximately 60 kilometres west of Athens. Firefighting aircraft were deployed to perform water drops after ground crews worked through the night to contain the flames. Emergency services utilized the 112 warning system to order evacuations for the areas of Porto Germeno, Psatha, and Mytikas. During the overnight operations, 12 individuals were rescued by boat, while local reports indicate that several residences have been destroyed and a fire engine was completely consumed by the fire.
On the western outskirts of Athens, a separate wildfire spread across Mount Poikilo, moving toward the edge of the Haidari suburb. The fire approached the perimeter of the Daphni Psychiatric Hospital, leading authorities to evacuate 17 patients as a precautionary measure, though the facility itself remained untouched by the flames. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Civil Protection crisis coordination centre on Saturday to receive a briefing on the national firefighting efforts.
Elsewhere in the country, firefighters are continuing their battle against a wildfire in the northwestern Peloponnese. Conversely, conditions have shown signs of improvement in the Rethymno region on the island of Crete.
