In 2025, Greece is once again struggling with severe forest fires and other wooded and rural areas, which are especially intense due to extreme heat and drought. During record heatwaves, temperatures reach as high as 46°C, which significantly increases the risk of fires starting and spreading.
Areas hit by fires
Fires are burning in many parts of the country, both on the mainland and on the islands. The most affected places are:
– The city of Thessaloniki and its surroundings, where the situation is serious and some residents in certain areas need to be evacuated.
– The Peloponnese and the area around the city of Corinth, where 180 firefighters, 15 firefighting aircraft and 12 helicopters have been deployed to fight the blaze.
– The Greek coast and tourist regions, e.g. Crete, where fires are also active and pose a threat.
– The islands of Kythira and Euboea (Evia), where around 60 firefighters are battling the fires with the support of firefighting aircraft, but the flames are still spreading.
The main causes of the fires are drought, strong winds, high temperatures and highly flammable dry vegetation. In addition, random sparks, cigarette butts and even arson add to the problem, making the situation worse.
Consequences of the fires
The Greek authorities, aware of the seriousness of the situation, are asking the European Union for additional support, including firefighting aircraft. In some places, access to tourist sites has been restricted, such as the closure of the Acropolis in Athens during the hours of greatest heat.
In 2025, fires in Greece have caused the deaths of at least 81 people, and at least 5 people were injured and required medical assistance. The fires have affected many regions, including islands and mainland areas, and thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated.
🔥The fire in #Corinthia has gotten out of control.
Firefighters are creating defence lines to contain the fire as quickly as possible before sunset, when aerial drops will end.
The fire is engulfing hard-to-reach terrain, a pristine forest with fir trees.
Experts warn that the weather and environmental conditions mean that once a fire starts, putting it out can be very difficult, even impossible in some places, especially when strong gusts of wind are blowing.
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