Forest fires in Greece: Holidaymakers in danger – evacuations are underway!

Forest fires in Greece: Holidaymakers in danger – evacuations are underway!

The Foreign Office has issued an increased travel warning for Greece, where there is currently a very high risk of forest fires. Extreme heat and persistent drought are driving the situation to the extreme. Evacuations in popular tourist regions are necessary during the current holiday season as thousands of firefighters are on duty around the clock. On Zakynthos in particular, an enormous conflagration is spreading over 20 kilometers. The city of Patras had to evacuate seven neighborhoods due to the fires, including facilities such as a children's hospital and a retirement home. Hundreds of vehicles were destroyed by the flames.

In Chios, the coast guard did its best to rescue people from the advancing flames. Last August 12th there were 82 new forest fires, an exceptionally high number for this region. Temperatures have risen to over 40 degrees Celsius as a result of a heat wave, further exacerbating the situation. Around 5,000 emergency services and volunteers are fighting the flames and Greece has requested four firefighting aircraft through the EU civil protection agency to fight the fires. Drought warnings have also been issued for several regions, which could lead to disruption to the infrastructure in tourist areas.

Recommendations for travelers

The Federal Foreign Office recommends that travelers obtain comprehensive information about the affected areas and avoid them. If necessary, trips should be rescheduled. The authority also advises activating emergency notifications on your mobile phone and following the relevant instructions. If you are out in nature, you should take sun protection, enough drinking water, a charged cell phone and a power bank with you. We are also advised to only use well-signposted hiking routes and to call 112 in the event of an emergency.

General caution in extreme temperatures is also advised. Staying in the blazing sun and crowded areas should be avoided. Physical exertion in the midday heat can be dangerous to your health. Light, light-colored clothing and regular fluid intake are also important recommendations to beat the heat. Fires that paralyzed an airport were also reported in Turkey.

Remembering William Galloway

A sad loss also occurred on August 9, 2025, when William Galloway of Woodruff, South Carolina passed away. He is survived by his parents, Garner Galloway and Margaret Settle Galloway, and his son, Jimmy Lowell Brown. People who were close to William Galloway include his wife Jolene Bagwell Galloway and his daughter Kimberly B. Fix (husband: John). Grandchild Christopher M. Cole, Jr. and his sister Elaine Farmer (husband: Wayne) also mourn his passing.

Visitation for William Galloway will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the J. M. Dunbar Funeral Home, 690 Southport Rd, Roebuck, SC 29376. Funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the same location. Donations in his memory may be made to First Baptist North Spartanburg or First Tee – Upstate South Carolina.