A strong fire broke out on Thursday afternoon in Halkidiki, one of the busiest tourist areas in northern Greece. The flames reached houses, hundreds of people were evacuated by sea, and tourists trying to leave by car were stuck in traffic jams.
The fire started in a forested area near Siviri, on the Kassandra peninsula, about 90 kilometers southeast of Thessaloniki. Strong winds rapidly pushed the fire through the pine forest and towards inhabited areas.
According to AFP and the Greek press, authorities issued three evacuation messages through the emergency system 112 for Siviri and Fourka, two tourist areas on the western coast of the peninsula.
The situation improved towards the evening. ERT News reported that the fire no longer had an active front, but firefighters remained in the area due to the risk of reignition.
481 people evacuated by sea
The most extensive operation took place on the coast, after the fire dangerously approached the shore.
"People on the beaches of Siviri and Fourka must be evacuated by sea as a priority because the fire is dangerously close to the coast," said firefighter spokesperson Yannis Artopios during the operation, as reported by ERT.
In total, 481 people were evacuated by sea from Siviri, according to the latest report presented by ERT. The operation involved Coast Guard and Fire Brigade vessels, private boats, and fishing vessels.
Images broadcasted by Greek television showed tourists in swimsuits, some holding children, waiting to be picked up by boats while smoke covered the area.
A hotel in Fourka where Ukrainian children were accommodated was also evacuated. The children were loaded onto buses and taken safely out of the fire-threatened area, according to Proto Thema.
Meanwhile, numerous people tried to leave by car, causing significant traffic jams.
"We are on the beach trying to find a way to leave. From where we are, we see the flames reaching the town and houses burning," 52-year-old Sophia, who has a vacation home in the area, told AFP.
Kassandra Mayor Heraklis Leivadiotis described the situation as "very difficult." "For now, the priority is to protect people's lives. Part of Siviri has been completely evacuated, and the operation continues mainly by sea," he told The Opinion.
Flames reaching up to 30 meters
At one point, the fire front stretched for about three kilometers, and in the dense pine forest, the flames reached heights of 20-30 meters, according to ERT.
A total of 142 firefighters and 51 vehicles were mobilized to extinguish the fire. Nine planes and seven helicopters intervened from the air. Two firefighters were injured and taken to the hospital. Emergency services sent four ambulances to the fire area.
The fire also reached residential buildings. The Greek press reported on affected houses, and ERT presented testimonies from people who saw their properties engulfed in flames.
The strong wind complicated the intervention. "The conditions are extreme, and we have very little time to react," said Stratos Gitsoudis, president of the Panhellenic Association of Forest Firefighters, to ERT.
The official cause of the fire has not been determined. The Greek press reported that the hypothesis of an issue with the electrical network is being analyzed, as strong winds may have caused sparks to ignite.
What tourists need to know: the danger remains high
Even though the situation in Siviri improved towards the evening, the risk of fires remains very high.
On Thursday, authorities were on maximum alert, with an extremely high fire risk - level 5, the highest level - in Halkidiki, Attica, and Central Greece.
Access restrictions were imposed in several forested areas in Halkidiki, including the Kassandra peninsula. The measures also concern tourists, and violating the restrictions can result in fines.
The main issue remains the wind. Strong gusts reaching or even exceeding 100 km/h are forecasted for Friday.
The fire broke out at a time when the resorts in Halkidiki are very crowded, ahead of the August 15 weekend, one of the peak moments of the tourist season in Greece.
Those in the affected areas should follow the messages sent through the 112 system and the instructions of local authorities.
40 fires in a single day
The fire in Halkidiki is not an isolated case. In the last 24 hours, 40 vegetation fires broke out in Greece, with nine still active on Thursday evening, according to firefighters.
Fires were also reported in Aetolia-Acarnania in the west of the country, in Ilia in western Peloponnese, and in Boeotia in central Greece.
This situation comes just ten days after another major fire broke out northwest of Athens, near a coastal resort.
Over 11,000 hectares of pine forests, vegetation, and agricultural land were destroyed then. The wind had gusts of up to 130 km/h, and the fire was extinguished after five days.
Two crew members of a helicopter died after the aircraft collided with another helicopter during firefighting operations.
G.P.