Wildfires ravage Greek holiday island as fire crews battle blazes and dozens evacuated

Wildfires are ravaging a Greek holiday island as fire crews battle blazes and dozens of people are evacuated.
Fire crews are battling the large fire on Greece's eastern Aegean island of Chios, as strong winds spread flames and thick smoke through forest and farmland, damaging warehouses, threatening homes, and forcing evacuations in 16 settlements as a precaution.
The fire broke out around midday in central Chios on Sunday (22 June) and quickly spread across three fronts
Around 140 firefighters with 15 engines, along with 70 forest commandos, were deployed to contain the blaze, according to local media reports.
Power outages were reported in several parts of the island.

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Sky News

an hour ago

• Sky News

Major wildfire on Greek island of Chios prompts evacuations - as officials warn 'situation remains critical'

Nearly 200 firefighters are battling a major wildfire on the Greek island of Chios. The fire started on Sunday in three separate locations near the main town, which is also called Chios. The flames were fanned by strong winds and turned into one large blaze. Local media footage and photos showed firefighters battling towering flames burning through woodland and farmland as night fell. Power cuts have also been reported. Greek authorities sent fresh evacuation notifications for two areas near Chios town on Monday morning. Push alerts have been sent to mobile phones in the area urging people to evacuate a total of 16 villages, settlements and neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the town. "The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," a Greek government spokesman said. The fire department said 190 firefighters were trying to control the fire on Monday, with strong winds hampering their efforts. Some 35 vehicles, five helicopters and two water-dropping planes were also involved in the effort. A specialist fire department arson investigation team has been sent to the eastern Aegean island to look into the causes. Wildfires are common during Greece's hot, dry summers but authorities have said climate change is fuelling bigger and more frequent blazes. Last year, hundreds of tourists and residents were forced to flee wildfires on the holiday island of Kos.

The Independent

an hour ago

• The Independent

Is it safe to travel to Greece amid wildfires on the island of Chios?

Wildfires are raging on the Greek island of Chios, ripping through swathes of forests, forcing people to evacuate their homes and causing power outages. The blaze has been ongoing for two days, with strong gusts of wind on Monday making it difficult to control the flames. Some 190 firefighters have been battling the fires, with another 171 being deployed to try to keep the blaze at bay and away reach of residential areas. As a precaution, dozens of people who live in villages on the island have left their homes. Chios, the fifth largest Greek island, is located near the western coastline of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. The island is known for its pristine coastline, medieval villages and Byzantine-era architecture, as well as being one of the only places in the world to grow mastic trees, which produce resin, an important industry on the island. Firefighters are trying to prevent the fires from reaching the trees that are vital for the island's economy Sitting at Europe's hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years, which have been attributed to fast-changing climate. Here's what to know about the Chios wildfires. Where are the wildfires? As of Monday morning, Greece's civil protection emergency services have issued a warning over forest fires in the areas of: Vessa, Lithi, Elata, Leptopoda, Agios Georgios Sikousis, Dafnoas, Agia Paraskevi Karyon area, Resta and Armolia. More warnings covering other areas were also made over the weekend. The authorities have asked people to follow the protection advice on their website. Foreign Office advice The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) had not given any specific travel advice regarding the wildfires in Chios as of Monday morning. In its general advice, the FCDO says that lighting fires in the country is both dangerous and illegal due to the high risk of wildfires. 'There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location,' the advice says. 'Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.' To avoid the risk of starting wildfires, the FCDO says not to leave litter behind, especially not glass, which is known to start fires, to make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished and not to light barbecues 'Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112,' it adds. It also advises travellers to follow @112Greece for official updates, adhere to the guidance of the emergency services, call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger and contact your airline or travel operator, who can assist you with return travel to the UK. Will my flight get cancelled? There has been no disruption to flights due to the wildfires. Chios Island National Airport operates a small number of flights a day to mainland Greece and other airlines. Its flight schedule is operating as normal, apart from some minor delays to arrivals and departures. Most airlines adhere to a policy whereby they should put you on the next available flight in the event of a cancellation. Compensation is unlikely when the cause of a cancellation is out of the airline's control, such as wildfires. Can I cancel my package holiday? As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Greece, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes. If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.

Daily Record

3 hours ago

• Daily Record

Major Greece evacuation on holiday island after massive wildfires

More than 100 firefighters have been battling a large wildfire, with emergency services ordering the evacuation of a dozen areas More than 100 firefighters supported by water-dropping helicopters and planes have been battling a large wildfire near the main town of the eastern Aegean island of Chios. Emergency services have ordered the evacuation of a dozen areas due to three separate fires that broke out on Sunday morning and mid-day near the town of Chios. Strong winds have exacerbated the situation, causing the firefighters to struggle in containing what has now become one large blaze. The fire department has announced it will be sending an arson investigation team to the Greek island. ‌ Reinforcements from Athens and the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki have been dispatched by ship to support the 100 firefighters already on the island. Ten water-dropping helicopters and two firefighting planes provided air support until nightfall, reports Bristol Live. As daylight fell, local media footage and photos depicted firefighters combating towering flames burning through woodland and farmland. Wildfires are a common occurrence in Greece during its hot, dry summers, but authorities have stated that climate change is fuelling bigger and more frequent blazes. In 2018, a massive fire engulfed the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they attempted to escape. The tragedy resulted in more than 100 fatalities, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.