Authorities issued an evacuation warning for two villages in central Greece on Wednesday as over 135 firefighters and 25 aircraft worked to control a wildfire. The warning came a day after a father and his 12-year-old son died in separate blazes.
Firefighters confirmed on Wednesday that a body found inside a home destroyed by a fire Tuesday was that of the boy. His father’s body was discovered outside the property, located in a wooded area northeast of Thessaloniki. The boy's mother is receiving hospital treatment for burns.
The wildfire on Wednesday was burning through forest and agricultural land in the Fthiotida region of central Greece. The response included 19 water-dropping planes, six helicopters, and 135 firefighters, supported by volunteers and specialized forest fire units.
Greece experienced at least three other wildfires on Wednesday. One occurred in the northern Halkidiki region, another on the island of Salamina near Athens, and a third in southern Greece. The fire department reported that all three were quickly contained.
While Greece commonly faces wildfires during its hot, dry summers, it has so far avoided the severe heatwaves that have affected much of western Europe recently. In 2018, a wildfire east of Athens resulted in over 100 deaths. The European Union recorded its largest-ever wildfire in 2023, which spread through a nature reserve in northeastern Greece.
The country has been increasing its use of technology to combat wildfires, a threat amplified by climate change. In May, Greece launched four satellites into low orbit to monitor for fires.