Forest fires in Greece: evacuations and orange alert!

Forest fires in Greece: evacuations and orange alert!

Forest fires are a common occurrence in Greece, especially in the Aegean Sea, during summer. The regions around Athens and the island of Chios are currently affected, whereupon the authorities have ordered evacuations for residents and holidaymakers. The “orange” alert currently applies in the southern Peloponnese, in the area around Athens and on the islands of Lesbos and Samos. Temperatures in Greece reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, while strong winds significantly increase the risk of fires.

A bush and forest fire broke out in southeast Athens, requiring a large-scale deployment by the fire department. Fortunately, the fire has now been brought under control. On Chios, three fires occurred almost simultaneously and combined, affecting around 4,000 hectares of land before they could be extinguished. Current climatic conditions, including extreme heat and dry winds, are conducive to bush and forest fires, which have also led to infrastructure disruption, such as road closures.

Evacuations and safety precautions

Greek authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents, particularly in vulnerable areas, in direct response to the fires. This affects, among other things, children's summer camps in villages in the east of Athens and near Loutraki in the west. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasizes that protecting human lives is the top priority. Around 1,200 children from holiday camps near Loutraki have been safely evacuated, while in some regions, such as Anavyssos and Saronida, up to 20 forest and bush fires are threatening habitable areas.

Civil defense has also increased efforts to contain the fires, while the fire department is warning of increased risk from the high temperatures. Gusts of wind reach speeds of up to 60 km/h, which not only makes firefighting more dangerous but also more complicated. Over the weekend, temperatures in the Thebes region were even higher than 44 degrees, and the Acropolis was closed during the hottest hours of the day.

Information for holidaymakers

Holidaymakers in Greece should carefully follow the instructions of local authorities and ensure that they can use the emergency number 112 in case of emergencies. German tourists are advised to activate “emergency notifications” on their mobile phones. In exceptional circumstances such as forest fires, package holidaymakers have the option of canceling their trips free of charge. However, extreme heat alone is not a valid reason for cancellation, and potential cancellation charges may arise if a trip is canceled due to fear or concern.

Individual travelers do not need to pay for services not provided in closed regions. It should also be noted that information about safety precautions for forest fires is available from the Federal Foreign Office. Despite the difficult situation with forest fires, there is still hope that the weather conditions will ease: the weather service EMY is predicting a slight cooling of a few degrees over the next few days, even if a new heat wave with highs of up to 43 degrees cannot be ruled out.

In summary, Greece is fighting the threat of forest fires and both citizens and tourists are being kept well informed and protected to safety.