A fast-moving wildfire ripped through the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri on Saturday, destroying homes and forcing urgent evacuations, as Greece confronts its third brutal heatwave this summer. Fueled by soaring temperatures, bone-dry conditions, and fierce winds, the inferno forms part of a wider crisis engulfing Southern Europe.
Emergency services were stretched thin across the region, battling dozens of blazes that erupted almost simultaneously. Over 145 firefighters, backed by 44 engines, 10 planes, and 7 helicopters, were deployed in Athens alone as smoke thickened and danger escalated.
Kryoneri on Alert Residents in Kryoneri, located 20km northeast of Athens, received three emergency text alerts urging immediate evacuation toward the city center. At least two homes were engulfed, and five elderly citizens were hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation.
“The real difficulties are ahead of us,” warned Fire Service spokesperson Vassilios Vathrakogiannis, stressing that high winds and continued heat may worsen conditions.
Explosions Near Drosopigi Explosions rocked Drosopigi, 25km north of the capital, where factories storing flammable materials posed additional risks. Helicopters dropped water from above as ground crews battled to contain the flames.
Wider Regional Crisis In Kythira, the third wildfire in days continues to devastate the island, with residents describing scenes of “total destruction.” Greece’s Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis confirmed injuries among firefighters and extensive property damage.
“The cost is not only material—it’s human lives put in danger,” Kefalogiannis said.
The Greek government has appealed for six firefighting aircraft from the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, underscoring the scale of the emergency.
A video posted on social media by journalist Evangelo Sipsas captured the chaos, showing engulfed neighborhoods and desperate evacuations.
