This summer, Greece has been grappling with intense wildfires that refuse to back down.
Near Athens, firefighters are working around the clock battling flames that have already ravaged thousands of acres of forest and brush.
With strong winds still howling through the region, concerns are high that the fires could spread further and cause more destruction.
Massive Firefighting Effort Near Keratea
Around Keratea, a rural area about 27 miles southeast of Athens, over 260 firefighters have been deployed alongside nearly 80 fire engines and a dozen aircraft.
According to a fire department spokesman, the situation has somewhat improved, but there are still several active hotspots.
Just as firefighters contained one blaze, a new fire emerged close to the town of Kouvaras, but thankfully it was quickly brought under control.
Devastation in Lavrio’s Surrounding Areas
Dimitris Loukas, the mayor of nearby Lavrio, shared the grim toll of the wildfire that broke out on Friday.
Nearly 10,000 acres of brush and forest have been destroyed, along with numerous homes, agricultural lands, and other properties.
The damage is widespread, and the threat remains high as powerful winds are expected to continue at least through Monday.
Evacuations and a Tragic Loss
On Friday night, firefighters and police evacuated dozens of residents, including those in an elderly care center, as the fire advanced toward the coastal resort town of Palaia Fokaia.
Tragically, firefighters later found the remains of an elderly man in a hut near Keratea. Mayor Loukas said the man had died peacefully in his bed.
A Landscape Transformed by Fire
In Palaia Fokaia, about an hour south of Athens, what was once a peaceful Greek countryside filled with olive groves and small villages now looks almost apocalyptic.
Blackened earth and burned homes stretch as far as the eye can see.
On Saturday, strong winds continued to whip through the area, carrying dust and the bitter scent of ash from the surrounding hills still smoldering with embers.
Residents wearing masks returned cautiously to their homes to salvage whatever they could from the ruins.
Dimitria, a local woman, was among the luckier ones — her house survived, but the nearby forest was reduced to scorched remnants.
She lamented the limited reinforcements for firefighters overnight and described the fear as the flames threatened numerous homes.
Firefighters Battling Smoldering Embers
Firefighters remained vigilant, combing through burnt trees with hoses to extinguish lingering embers and prevent new flare-ups.
Their boots crunched on charred twigs and ash as gale-force winds continued to challenge containment efforts.
Deadly Winds Claim Two Tourists on Milos Island
Meanwhile, the strong winds that have hampered firefighting efforts also caused a tragic accident on the Cycladic island of Milos.
Two Vietnamese tourists visiting the famous volcanic rock beach of Sarakiniko fell into the sea during rough conditions.
A 61-year-old woman fell first, and a 65-year-old man drowned trying to save her.
The coastguard confirmed the heartbreaking incident as the wind gusts reached up to 46 miles per hour.
Widespread Disruptions and Regional Fire Outbreaks
Greece’s national weather service reported that these powerful winds will continue through the weekend, disrupting ferry travel and other transportation.
Although a sailing ban on Athens ports was lifted on Saturday, thousands of summer travelers faced delays on Friday due to the hazardous conditions.
Elsewhere in Europe, wildfires have been flaring up amid an intense heatwave.
In Italy, Mount Vesuvius was engulfed in flames on Friday afternoon, forcing firefighters both on the ground and in the air to rush to the scene.
The operation had to be paused at nightfall for safety, but authorities remain closely monitoring the situation.
Mount Vesuvius and Regional Concerns
Raffaele De Luca, president of Vesuvius National Park, voiced his deep concern about the fire’s impact, thanking firefighters and officials for their tireless work to protect the area’s natural heritage and the local communities.
Meanwhile, wildfires have also been raging in Turkey, France, and other parts of Greece, fuelled by hotter and drier conditions.
Spain’s Tourist Resort Faces Evacuations After Forest Fire
Spain hasn’t escaped the chaos either. Near Tarifa, known as a surfer’s paradise for its vast beaches and big waves, a dramatic forest fire forced the evacuation of 1,500 tourists and locals.
The blaze reportedly began in a motorhome at the Torre la Peña campsite before spreading rapidly through hilly grasslands dotted with homes and tourist spots, including the Wawa Hotel.
Beach bars and small seafront eateries called “chiringuitos” also had to clear out due to thick ash falling along the coast.
Emergency teams continue to battle the flames as holidaymakers anxiously watch from a distance.