Latest news with #mastiha
Reuters
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Hundreds of firefighters battle wildfires on Greece's Chios island for third day
ATHENS, June 24 (Reuters) - Hundreds of firefighters were battling to contain wildfires at different locations on the Greek island of Chios for a third day on Tuesday after the island declared a state of emergency. Some 444 firefighters assisted by eight aircraft have been deployed to the island in the northeastern Aegean Sea to tackle the fires that have torn through swathes of forest and agricultural land and forced hundreds of villagers to evacuate in recent days. Chios is in the midst of the tourist season and authorities also want to prevent the fires reaching areas famous for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. Authorities issued a new alert on Tuesday, advising residents of a seaside village southwest of Chios town, the island's capital, to leave as white smoke rose over a nearby beach. Livestream from Greece's public broadcaster showed a helicopter spraying water over the area. "A lot of work is still needed to bring the wildfires under control," a Greek fire brigade official who requested anonymity told Reuters. Northerly winds were complicating firefighting efforts, they added. Greece, Europe's southernmost tip, is often hit by wildfires during its hot and dry summers but authorities have blamed a fast-changing climate for fuelling more destructive blazes in recent years. Athens has paid out hundreds of millions of euros in damages related to extreme weather to households and farmers and to update firefighting equipment. It has a record 18,000 firefighters this year in anticipation of a challenging fire season.
Telegraph
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Hundreds flee as wildfires rage across Greek holiday island
Wildfires have broken out on the Greek holiday island of Chios, with the authorities declaring a state of emergency and ordering residents to evacuate. Nearly 200 firefighters are trying to control the blazes, which are being whipped up by strong winds, and another 170 are being sent as reinforcements. A dozen helicopters and four planes capable of dumping water have been deployed to the area. Locals and tourists on the island in the northern Aegean have received mobile phone alerts ordering them to evacuate. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, the civil protection minister, said the decision to impose a state of emergency was made so that the authorities 'can immediately take the necessary measures'. Ms Kefalogiannis said the powerful winds, estimated at force six on the Beaufort scale, were making the situation 'very difficult'. 'If the wind dies down a bit, we might be able to get this fire under control. But the wind really hasn't dropped,' she said. The evacuation orders affect 16 villages and suburbs on the outskirts of Chios town, the main settlement. 'The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which are near hamlets,' said a Greek government spokesman. Firefighting teams are trying to prevent the blazes from spreading to rural areas known for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. On Sunday, about a dozen areas and hundreds of asylum seekers at a reception centre were forced to evacuate as the fires spread. Although wildfires are common in Greece during the summer, experts say global warming is producing bigger and more frequent conflagrations. In 2023, devastating forest fires broke out on the island of Rhodes, forcing 19,000 people to flee the island. Greece has hired a record 18,000 firefighters this year amid concerns that it faces a challenging fire season. A heatwave is predicted in the next few days, with temperatures of more than 40C (104F) expected, including in the capital Athens.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Greece to Reinforce Firefighting Teams on Chios as Wildfires Rage for Second day
Greece will send more than 170 more firefighters on Monday to reinforce teams battling wildfires on the Greek island of Chios for a second day, as winds further whipped up the blaze, bringing power cuts and spurring the evacuation of residents. "The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference. He said another 171 firefighters would be sent to the island in the northeastern Aegean Sea, joining about 190 assisted by 11 aircraft who were trying to prevent the conflagration from spreading to homes and areas known for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. Wind gusts complicated efforts to extinguish the wildfires, which have razed forest and pasture land as they barrel towards the north, west and south of Chios town, the island's capital, causing power cuts and forcing hundreds of villagers to flee to safety. Sitting at Europe's hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years that scientists say have been exacerbated by a fast-changing climate. The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to update firefighting equipment. It has hired a record number of firefighters this year, some 18,000 of them, in anticipation of a challenging fire season.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Greece wildfires rage for second day
Greece will send more than 170 more firefighters to reinforce teams battling wildfires on the Greek island of Chios for a second day, as winds further whipped up the blaze, bringing power cuts and spurring the evacuation of residents. "The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference on Monday. He said another 171 firefighters would be sent to the island in the northeastern Aegean Sea, joining about 190 assisted by 11 aircraft who were trying to prevent the conflagration from spreading to homes and areas known for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. Wind gusts complicated efforts to extinguish the wildfires, which have razed forest and pasture land as they barrel towards the north, west and south of Chios town, the island's capital, causing power cuts and forcing hundreds of villagers to flee to safety. Sitting at Europe's hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years that scientists say have been exacerbated by a fast-changing climate. The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to update firefighting equipment. It has hired a record number of firefighters this year, some 18,000 of them, in anticipation of a challenging fire season.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- The Independent
Greece wildfires: Dozens evacuated as flames ravage holiday island
Wildfires fanned by strong winds are continuing to rage across the Greek island of Chios for a second consecutive day, prompting authorities to evacuate more villages. Some 190 firefighters, supported by six aircraft, are engaged in efforts to contain the blazes in the northeastern Aegean Sea. Their primary objective is to prevent the flames from reaching residential areas and regions vital for the production of mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees. However, their efforts have been significantly complicated by strong gusts of wind throughout Monday, according to a Greek fire brigade official. The fires have already consumed swathes of forest and pasture land, forcing dozens of villagers to flee their homes for safety. The widespread destruction has also led to power cuts. Sitting at Europe's hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years that scientists say have been exacerbated by a fast-changing climate. The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and acquire new and modern firefighting equipment to deal with wildfires. It has hired a record number of firefighters this year in anticipation of a difficult fire season. Last week, a wildfire raging through a dense forest near Ano Souli, a village northeast of Athens, prompted evacuation orders as dozens of Greek firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control. Around 120 firefighters, supported by 17 aircraft and 30 engines, were deployed to the village, which is located approximately 25 miles from the Greek capital. Earlier this year it was reported that Athens is the hottest capital in continental Europe. It saw record temperatures in 2024, a situation that is becoming the new normal. The Mediterranean as a whole is warming faster than the global average. With travel booming to Greece, authorities predict Athens will welcome a record 10 million visitors this year. Those arriving in July and August will face even more extreme temperatures, the national meteorological service predicts, creating a perfect combination of tourism and scorching weather.
