- Fast-moving wildfires in Greece forced hundreds of tourists to evacuate from Halkidiki peninsula resorts.
- Over 220 to 300 people were rescued from Siviri beach by coast guard and fishing vessels.
- Fourka resort saw tourists queuing on pontoons to flee as flames closed in.
- Greece’s 112 Emergency Service sent warning texts ordering instant evacuation.
- Nearly 200 firefighters with water-bombing planes and helicopters are fighting the flames.
The fast-moving wildfires in Greece have forced hundreds of tourists and residents to evacuate from popular seaside resorts on the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece, with the most severe impacts and emergency sea evacuations focused on the Kassandra peninsula within Halkidiki. The coastal resort of Siviri suffered a massive fire that pushed thick smoke over beaches and over 220 to 300 people were rescued directly from Siviri beach. The bustling tourist resort town of Fourka located near Siviri saw tourists in swimwear queuing on pontoons to flee as a wall of flames closed in.
The coastal resort of Porto Germeno about 70 kilometres west of Athens also faced evacuation orders as intense winds pushed fires through the Attica and Viotia regions. The Greek coast guard, patrol boats, and private fishing vessels evacuated more than 250 to 300 holidaymakers directly from the beaches because flames blocked land roads. Many evacuated tourists moved via boat to the nearby Sani marina or transferred to larger passenger vessels. Greece’s 112 Emergency Communications Service sent warning texts to mobile phones ordering instant flight from danger zones.
A highly active wildfire season fueled by consecutive heatwaves, severe drought, and gale-force winds has left vegetation dry. Nearly 200 firefighters, water-bombing planes, and helicopters are fighting the flames and working aggressively to protect holiday homes and prevent more structural damage. Wildfires have forced emergency evacuations and disrupted tourism across major European holiday destinations including Greece, Croatia, France, Spain, and Turkey, with punishing heatwaves and severe drought triggering massive blazes that hit peak-season coastal resorts and mountain villages.
