Greece wildfire prompts emergency evacuations and transport closures
Iain Hoey
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Major fire breaks out near Greek capital
A wildfire broke out south of Athens on 27 June 2025, leading to evacuations and the closure of coastal roads, according to AP News.
Greek fire department spokesperson Colonel Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said firefighting efforts were focused on areas with homes in the Palaia Fokaia region.
Twelve aircraft and twelve helicopters supported 130 firefighters and volunteer crews.
A firefighting vessel from the coast guard also responded from the sea.
The blaze coincided with the country’s first summer heatwave, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.
Air and ground response in coastal region
The fire began within a populated coastal area south of Athens.
According to Vathrakogiannis, strong and shifting winds complicated efforts to control the spread.
Smoke was visible over a wide area, and television broadcasts showed at least one house on fire.
Mayor Dimitris Loukas told ERT that multiple homes may have sustained damage, although confirmed information had not yet been collected.
Emergency services deployed coast guard vessels and private boats in the area as a precautionary measure.
Nine private vessels and two patrol boats were placed on standby in case evacuations by sea became necessary.
Residents told to evacuate as danger level rises
Local town councilor Apostolos Papadakis said residents were advised to leave their homes.
Evacuation orders were issued for five locations, and road closures affected the route between Athens and the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion.
Authorities advised drivers to use alternative roads to exit the area.
Police had evacuated at least 40 individuals by Thursday afternoon.
The Greek fire department said that ambulances were also positioned nearby but had not been deployed by the time of the statement.
Fire risk raised to Level 4 in Athens and Aegean
The Greek fire department said that the Athens area and several islands were placed on Level 4 of a 5-level fire danger scale.
The classification was based on high temperatures and dry conditions linked to the heatwave.
Officials said that weather forecasts indicated elevated fire risk would continue through the weekend.
The cause of the current fire has not been determined.
Vathrakogiannis confirmed that a dedicated arson investigation unit had been sent to the affected area.
Previous wildfire on Chios contained earlier this week
Earlier in the week, a separate fire burned for four days on the island of Chios.
The Greek fire department reported that hundreds of personnel were deployed to contain the Chios fire, which damaged forest and farmland.
At least twelve evacuation orders were issued during the incident.
Authorities arrested one woman in connection with the Chios fire.
She was suspected of starting the fire by discarding a lit cigarette, according to the fire department.
Greece wildfire prompts emergency evacuations and transport closures: Summary
A wildfire broke out south of Athens on 27 June 2025.
The report was published by AP News.
Evacuations were ordered for five areas in the Palaia Fokaia region.
Police had evacuated 40 people by Thursday afternoon.
The fire started near residential areas and was pushed by strong winds.
Twelve aircraft and twelve helicopters supported 130 firefighters.
A coast guard vessel assisted from the sea.
Several roads, including the Athens–Sounion coastal route, were closed.
Emergency boats and ambulances were placed on standby.
Temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius during the heatwave.
Fire danger was raised to Level 4 across the Athens area and Aegean islands.
An arson investigation unit was deployed to the fire site.
A separate fire on Chios had been contained earlier in the week.
Authorities arrested one individual in connection with the Chios fire.
Wildfires are common in Greece during dry summer conditions.