Hundreds escape Greek wildfire by sea as blazes continue across Europe
Hundreds of people are being evacuated by sea in Greece as wildfires spread across the country due to high winds and heatwaves. Similar blazes are affecting other European nations, highlighting the increasing impact of climate change on fire risk.
Why it matters
The frequency of these extreme weather events poses a growing threat to tourism and public safety in Southern Europe.
Image source, Greek fire service By Aleks Phillips Published 31 July 2026 Hundreds of people in central Greece are being evacuated by sea after the coastal town they were in became hemmed in by one of the many wildfires raging across the country.
Around 500 people, mostly tourists, were left stranded after the fire broke out near Agios Vasileios in Viotia on Friday morning and rapidly spread on strong winds, local media report.
Another fire has broken out further along the coast, while firefighters continue to battle a large wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that ignited earlier this week.
Greece is one of several European nations suffering devastating wildfires after a succession of heatwaves created favourable conditions for them.
Firefighters in Portugal and Spain are still tackling blazes spanning thousands of hectares, with a new heatwave this week raising the risk of a massive fire near Madrid reigniting.
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