Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations on Greek Island

Three large wildfires raced across the Greek island of Chios, forcing the evacuation of 12 villages and a migrant reception center.

Strong winds prompted authorities to order evacuations as firefighters worked around the clock to contain the flames.

Over 190 firefighters from mainland Greece were deployed, backed by six firefighting aircraft and ten helicopters. Their priority was saving homes, farms, and the mastiha resin orchards—locally crucial resources.

Power outages were widespread, and drone-collected footage shows vast areas of damaged forest and pasturelands.

According to Digi24, arson is suspected since the fires ignited nearly simultaneously in different locations.

The blaze on Chios broke out amid a wave of approximately 50 wildfires across Greece this weekend, most of which are now under control.

However, the fire service warns that “the risk of new ones remains very high.”

With searing temperatures, dry conditions, and strong coastal winds, the Mediterranean continues to be extremely vulnerable to wildfires.