Fires Devastate Crete and Athens as Greece Faces One of Its Worst Summer Crises

After days of intense firefighting, the blaze on the island of Crete has been brought under control, while a new fire front threatens residential areas southeast of Athens. Extreme heat, strong winds, and drought continue to complicate efforts.

Three Days Under Siege in Crete

On Wednesday afternoon, a large-scale wildfire broke out in eastern Crete, triggering a crisis that forced the urgent evacuation of more than 5,000 people, most of them tourists staying in coastal resorts. The flames spread rapidly, driven by strong wind gusts and temperatures exceeding 40°C, affecting nine localities.

Firefighters mobilized a large contingent, with nearly 230 personnel, 46 fire trucks, dozens of helicopters and aircraft, and local volunteers. Conditions were extreme: the fire was moving downhill toward populated areas, threatening homes, businesses, hotels, and forests. Winds nearing level 9 on the Beaufort scale fueled the flames, making containment strategies extremely difficult.

After more than 72 hours of nonstop firefighting, authorities announced that the blaze in Crete had been brought under control. Hot spots and high-risk areas remain under close surveillance, but the fire’s expansion has been halted. Emergency crews are still on-site to prevent flare-ups in the dry, highly flammable terrain.

The provisional toll is grim: dozens of homes damaged or destroyed, over 1,500 hectares of forest and crops burned, multiple tourist complexes affected, and significant local infrastructure impacted. Images of tourists fleeing hotels and residents using buckets to defend their properties have circulated widely.

A New Firefront Near Athens

While Crete began to recover, another fire erupted on Friday in a wooded area between the towns of Galazia Akti and Althea, about 30 kilometers from central Athens. Though smaller in scale, its proximity to residential zones and its rapid advance sparked alarm.

Authorities launched evacuation operations in three coastal towns: Agios Dimitrios, Galazia Akti, and Althea. More than 800 people received emergency alerts via mobile phone, with clear instructions to evacuate toward the safer area of Lagosini. Evacuation routes were secured by police, and coast guard patrols stood by in case sea evacuation became necessary.

More than 120 firefighters, supported by dozens of fire engines, four helicopters, and two water-dropping planes, began working early in the morning to contain the blaze. Their quick response was key to preventing a more catastrophic outcome. Though some flames reached gardens and patios, the main body of the fire was contained without casualties.

The fire is now partially controlled, but the risk of flare-ups remains due to high temperatures and ongoing winds. The area remains under watch, with firefighters and civil protection units maintaining a strong presence.

A Deadly Mix: Climate, Wind, and Drought

The fires in Crete and Athens are part of a broader pattern unfolding across southern Europe: increasingly hot, dry, and prolonged summers, combined with extreme winds that turn any spark into an immediate threat. In Greece, this summer has been particularly severe.

Temperatures have exceeded 40°C for several consecutive days, while strong northern and westerly winds have acted as natural accelerants for the fires. Vegetation, dried out by prolonged drought, offers ideal fuel for uncontrollable flames.

Climate experts warn that climate change is altering seasonal patterns across the Mediterranean. Not only is fire season starting earlier — previously in August, now as early as June or May — but the severity of events is also intensifying. Each summer is hotter and longer than the last.

Wind, traditionally a key factor in fire propagation in mountainous and coastal areas, becomes an even greater hazard under these conditions. In both recent fires, gusts reached speeds that challenged even the most advanced aerial firefighting equipment, complicating water and foam drops from the air.

Mass Evacuations and Human Impact

In both fronts, authorities acted swiftly to protect lives. In Crete, the evacuation included tourists from large hotel complexes, many of them located just meters from the sea. Barges, buses, and private vehicles were used to transport them to safety. Some had to leave behind belongings and documents in the rush to escape.

Temporary shelters were set up in gyms, stadiums, and schools. Medical staff, psychologists, and emergency teams were deployed to care for those with anxiety or minor injuries. Although no fatalities have been reported, several individuals were hospitalized for respiratory issues caused by smoke inhalation.

In the outskirts of Athens, fear spread quickly, especially in areas previously devastated by past fires. Many residents took matters into their own hands, clearing dry branches, covering rooftops with wet tarps, or building makeshift firebreaks. Authorities, however, advised against confronting the flames without proper training.

The emotional toll is high. Images of evacuated children, abandoned pets, and homes surrounded by smoke have shocked a nation already familiar with fiery summers but still vulnerable to nature’s destructive force.

EFE@George Vitsaras

A Relentless Emergency Response

The state’s response has been broad, though some critics argue that more could have been done to anticipate the extreme risk posed by this week’s weather. More than 350 firefighters were active simultaneously across both fire fronts, backed by heavy vehicles, aircraft, coast guard units, and civil protection teams.

In Crete, reinforcements from the mainland played a key role in bringing the fire under control. Aerial resources, especially, helped stabilize hard-to-reach areas. At the same time, volunteers and residents joined surveillance, supply, and assistance efforts.

Near Athens, the speed of response proved decisive. Within hours, evacuations, roadblocks, and aerial deployments were coordinated. The use of the national 112 emergency messaging system was vital in providing clear instructions and avoiding mass panic.

Senior officials have visited the affected zones and promised swift aid for reconstruction. Investigations have also been launched to determine whether negligence, human activity, or even intentional acts were behind any of the fires. For now, the priority remains to control the remaining hot zones and prevent further outbreaks.

High-Risk Summer: What Lies Ahead

The fires in Crete and Athens are not isolated incidents. So far this summer, Greece has recorded dozens of simultaneous fire fronts in different regions, many caused by dry storms, human carelessness, or failures in power lines. The country remains on maximum alert.

Temperatures are expected to remain high in the coming weeks, raising the likelihood of new fires. Authorities have urged the public to avoid risky activities: outdoor barbecues, agricultural burning, and forest work. Patrols have been stepped up to detect early-stage fires.

Beyond the environmental, economic, and human impact, the crisis underscores a pressing need: to adapt public policy, infrastructure, and emergency protocols to a new climate reality. Fighting fires can no longer be seen as a seasonal task — it must become a year-round priority.

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Among the Greek population, one question lingers: Is this only the beginning of an even more devastating summer?