Latest news with #Chios
ABC News
34 minutes ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Greek island Chios under emergency declaration as fires burn out of control
Greece's government has declared a state of emergency on the Mediterranean island of Chios as major fires burn out of control. Five separate fire outbreaks have been burning in the country's fifth-largest island since the weekend, fanned by strong winds and dry summer conditions. Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis said the decision was made so the local authorities "can immediately take the necessary measures". "If the wind dies down a bit we might be able to get this fire under control," he told Greek news site iEidiseis. "But the wind really hasn't dropped." Around 190 firefighters, 38 vehicles, 12 helicopters and four water-bombers have been deployed to tackle the flames, the fire service said. On Sunday, about a dozen localities and hundreds of asylum seekers at a reception centre were forced to move, while, on Monday, seven villages had to be evacuated. The island's capital Chios is also at risk, with fires located to the north, west and south of the city, causing power cuts and forcing some residents to flee. Greece is particularly vulnerable to fires during the summer months, fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. Forecasts predict a heatwave in the coming days, with temperatures of more than 40 Celsius expected, including in the capital Athens. "The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference. Scientists say Greece's wildfires are becoming more frequent and stronger because of climate change. The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to update firefighting equipment. It has hired a record number of firefighters this year, some 18,000 of them, in anticipation of a challenging fire season. Reuters/AFP
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
Hundreds flee as wildfires rage across Greek holiday island
Wildfires have broken out on the Greek holiday island of Chios, with the authorities declaring a state of emergency and ordering residents to evacuate. Nearly 200 firefighters are trying to control the blazes, which are being whipped up by strong winds, and another 170 are being sent as reinforcements. A dozen helicopters and four planes capable of dumping water have been deployed to the area. Locals and tourists on the island in the northern Aegean have received mobile phone alerts ordering them to evacuate. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, the civil protection minister, said the decision to impose a state of emergency was made so that the authorities 'can immediately take the necessary measures'. Ms Kefalogiannis said the powerful winds, estimated at force six on the Beaufort scale, were making the situation 'very difficult'. 'If the wind dies down a bit, we might be able to get this fire under control. But the wind really hasn't dropped,' she said. The evacuation orders affect 16 villages and suburbs on the outskirts of Chios town, the main settlement. 'The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which are near hamlets,' said a Greek government spokesman. Firefighting teams are trying to prevent the blazes from spreading to rural areas known for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. On Sunday, about a dozen areas and hundreds of asylum seekers at a reception centre were forced to evacuate as the fires spread. Although wildfires are common in Greece during the summer, experts say global warming is producing bigger and more frequent conflagrations. In 2023, devastating forest fires broke out on the island of Rhodes, forcing 19,000 people to flee the island. Greece has hired a record 18,000 firefighters this year amid concerns that it faces a challenging fire season. A heatwave is predicted in the next few days, with temperatures of more than 40C (104F) expected, including in the capital Athens.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Climate
- Sky News
Major wildfire on Greek island of Chios leads to 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.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Greece to Reinforce Firefighting Teams on Chios as Wildfires Rage for Second day
Greece will send more than 170 more firefighters on Monday to reinforce teams battling wildfires on the Greek island of Chios for a second day, as winds further whipped up the blaze, bringing power cuts and spurring the evacuation of residents. "The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference. He said another 171 firefighters would be sent to the island in the northeastern Aegean Sea, joining about 190 assisted by 11 aircraft who were trying to prevent the conflagration from spreading to homes and areas known for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. Wind gusts complicated efforts to extinguish the wildfires, which have razed forest and pasture land as they barrel towards the north, west and south of Chios town, the island's capital, causing power cuts and forcing hundreds of villagers to flee to safety. Sitting at Europe's hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years that scientists say have been exacerbated by a fast-changing climate. The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to update firefighting equipment. It has hired a record number of firefighters this year, some 18,000 of them, in anticipation of a challenging fire season.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Climate
- 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.
