Greece and Turkey wildfires: Killer blazes force tourists and locals to flee
Destructive wildfires have swept through parts of Greece and Turkey forcing both tourists and locals to flee for their lives.
More than 1,500 people have been forced to evacuate in Turkey as horrifying blazes ravage a regions of the country. A firefighter has tragically died while desperately attempting to battle an inferno in the country's fourth most populated city, Bursa in the northwest. Thousands of people have also been forced to flee as wildfires hit two major Greek islands and villages near Athens. Horrifying images in both countries have shown the aftermath of these blazing fires in sweltering conditions, as Greece also faces 45C heat.
Have you or any friends and family been caught up in the wildfires?' Contact us at webnews@mirror.co.uk
Fire services in Greece are battling huge blazes on Greece's two largest islands. Emergency crews are working to stop a wildfire raging near the Crete's largest city of Chania. This blaze started in two separate spots and quickly spread into a larger blaze, burning down two homes.
Another fire has also battered parts of Evia, north of Athens. At least 335 firefighters, 19 planes and 13 helicopters are involved, but can only operate in daylight.
Residents in the Triada region were put on alert for potential evacuation as wind conditions deteriorated. These terrifying conditions could get worse as the Greek meteorological service has forecasted that temperatures could soar to 44C on Saturday.
Fifty-two wildfires have broken out across Greece in the past 24 hours, fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyannis said. He added: "The real difficulties are ahead of us."
Residents in Kryoneri, situated about 12 miles northeast of Athens, were also made to evacuate as they received three SMS alerts urging them to relocate to safer areas, while the nearby village of Drosopigi was shrouded in smoke. Explosions from nearby factories could also be heard as the fires reached sites storing combustible materials.
Residents and visitors in Turkey have also been seen dealing with horrifying flames engulfing mountains and quickly spreading in Bursa. The city's governor office, in a statement, revealed that 1,765 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast as more than 1,100 firefighters battle the flames.
One of these firefighters tragically died from a heat attack while battling the blaze, the city's mayor Mustafa Bozbey said in a statement. The Mayor added that over 7,000 acres of land had been scorched by the fatal fire.
The inferno has also impacted travellers as a highway connecting the city to the capital Ankara was forced to close due to horror fires in the forests surrounding the major road. The country's Forestry Minister, Ibrahim Yumakli, said fire crews have dealt with 76 separates blazes on Saturday.
Turkey, like Greece, has been hit with blistering hot weather conditions. Turkey recorded it's hottest day ever on Friday with the Sirnak in the southeast, hitting a boiling 50.5C. Strong winds in both countries have helped the horror wildfires spread and have made rescue missions and putting the terrifying fires out even more difficult.
Wildfires are becoming an increasingly common and devastating issue in Greece, which is situated in what experts call a "wildfire hotspot" during the scorching and arid summer months.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Leader Live
Is it safe to travel to Greece? Tourist advice amid wildfires
More than 50 wildfires have erupted in the country in the last 24 hours, leading to a request to the EU for six firefighting planes. Residents of Kryoneri, 12.5 miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS messages to evacuate to safe areas yesterday (July 26). This comes as Greek authorities battle separate fires on Euboea and Crete, its two largest islands, as well as on the island of Kythera and in the south-west of the mainland. Firefighters battled wildfires across Greece and the Western Balkans as the south of Europe sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer Both areas are popular holiday destinations for Brits who are looking to fly out this summer. However, if you've got a trip booked over the coming weeks, the extreme weather could impact your plans. As of July 27, the UK Foreign Office has not issued any "do not travel" notices for Greece. Although it does highlight safety advice due to a 'high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October'. The website recommends travellers register for the Greek government's national emergency alerts, stating: 'Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.' Tourists are also urged to 'be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires,' and to call the emergency services on 112 if you're in danger. Greece experiences wildfires every year, but they are becoming more intense and frequent. 🔴⚠️🔥♨️🇬🇷🇹🇷For the 1st time in recordes history,#Turkey has reached 50°C on July 25,during one of the worst #heatwave ever in the # also for #Albania & #Greece,all with multiple #wildfires.⬇️12hrs in sunlight by meteosat12 via @zoom_earth #ClimateEmergency Last year, Greece experienced its hottest June and July on record. If you find yourself at the site of a wildfire while on holiday, follow instructions from local authorities and keep essentials with you at all times. If you're set to head out to Greece on holiday, then it's best to check with your tour operator or airline. For those preparing to travel, it may be possible to cancel your trip for a refund, but only under specific circumstances. 'For tourists concerned about travel disruptions due to wildfires, it's essential to understand the options available in terms of insurance and refunds," Travel and Tour World states. Recommended reading: Does buying from duty free at the airport save you money and how does it work? The best ways to try and prevent jet lag on a long-haul flight Here are the best seats to choose on a plane - and the ones to avoid 'In cases where the wildfire threat directly impacts the region you are visiting, travellers may be eligible for a refund or rebooking. 'However, if the situation is not deemed dangerous enough by authorities, or if no official travel advisory is issued, airlines and tour operators are generally not obligated to offer full refunds.' As it stands, there is no Foreign Office warning against travel, so it's best to continue to check for regular updates in case the situation changes in the coming hours and days.
Channel 4
5 hours ago
- Channel 4
Greece wildfires force evacuations as hundreds of firefighters battle blaze
Homes have been destroyed and people are being evacuated near the Greek capital Athens as hundreds of firefighters battle wildfires burning just a few miles from the city. The blaze spread rapidly thanks to high winds and temperatures soaring up to 44 degrees celsius. Fires have also been spreading through forest areas in northwest Turkey with one official describing the scene as 'an apocalypse'.
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Wildfires threaten Turkish city as southern Europe grapples with blazes
Wildfires that have engulfed Turkey for weeks are now threatening the country's fourth-largest city, forcing more than 1,700 people to flee their homes and leaving one firefighter dead. Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro are also battling blazes fed by unusually high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds. Advertisement Overnight fires in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa, in north-west Turkey, spread rapidly, tinting the night sky over the city's eastern suburbs with a red glow. The fires come amid recent high temperatures (AP) Dozens of severe wildfires have hit the country daily since late June, with the government declaring the two western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik as disaster areas on Friday. The Bursa governor's office said that 1,765 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the north-east as more than 1,900 firefighters battled the flames. The major road linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was closed as surrounding forests burned. Advertisement A firefighter died from a heart attack while on duty, the city's mayor Mustafa Bozbey said, adding that the flames had scorched 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) around the city. Helicopters helped battle wildfires near Montenegro (AP) Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, described the scene as 'an apocalypse'. By morning, lessening winds brought some respite to firefighters, who continued efforts to battle the flames. However, TV footage revealed an ashen landscape where farms and pine forests had earlier stood. Forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli said fire crews across the country confronted 84 separate blazes on Saturday. Advertisement The country's north-west was under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday and 1,839 people have been evacuated from 19 villages. The minister warned that growing winds could suddenly reignite fires not properly watered down after being extinguished. Turkey recorded its highest temperature on record on Friday with 50.5°C recorded in Silopi ⚠️📈 This exceeds the previous record of 49.5°C recorded on 15th August 2023 🌡️ This extreme heat is bringing serious health impacts and giving a very high risk of wildfires 🔥 — Met Office (@metoffice) July 27, 2025 Beleaguered firefighters and rescue workers also saved thousands of livestock and pets that had been left behind in the rush to evacuate threatened areas. Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fuelling the wildfires. Advertisement The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature of 50.5C in the south-eastern Sirnak province on Friday. The highest temperatures for July were seen in 132 other locations, it said. Fourteen people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir in western Turkey. Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said late on Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, and that legal action had been taken against 97 suspects. Smoke rises from trees burned by wildfire near Montenegro's capital Podgorica (AP) In Greece, firefighters battled active wildfires in the country's south-west and on the island of Kythera on Sunday, following a blaze that scorched the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri on Saturday. Advertisement Temperatures reaching 38C or more persist across much of the country, though winds have eased slightly. In Kryoneri, 27 residents were evacuated overnight with police assistance after some initially ignored warnings. Authorities urged the public to comply with evacuation orders, warning that resistance puts both civilians and rescuers in danger. On Bulgaria's southern borders with Greece and Turkey, as well as the western Serbian frontier, firefighters battled wildfires as the government declared the worst-hit provinces disaster zones. Residents across nearly half the country were issued with a code red warning, the highest level.
