A major wildfire broke out on the Greek island of Evia on Monday, prompting authorities to evacuate a village as firefighters backed by aircraft and helicopters battled the flames.
The fire started at around 2:30 p.m. local time in a forested area near Makrykapa in central Evia, northeast of the island’s capital, Chalkida. Authorities issued an emergency alert shortly afterward warning people in the wider area about the blaze.
A second alert instructed people in and around the village of Triada to leave the area and head toward the town of Psachna. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The fire comes as Evia and several other parts of Greece face a very high wildfire risk, with authorities placing the area in category four, the second-highest level on Greece’s five-point fire danger scale.
Firefighting Forces Reinforced on Evia
The response was expanded during the afternoon as crews attempted to bring the wildfire under control.
At least 86 firefighters were deployed, supported by three specialized forest firefighting teams and 32 vehicles. Ten firefighting aircraft and three helicopters were assigned to the operation, with one of the helicopters coordinating the aerial response.
The Municipality of Dirfys-Messapia also provided water tankers and heavy machinery to assist the Fire Service. Greece’s National Defence General Staff was mobilized to provide additional machinery as authorities strengthened efforts to contain the blaze.
The fire was burning through forest vegetation in the Makrykapa area, with firefighting teams focusing on preventing its further spread and protecting nearby communities.
Authorities Investigate Cause of Wildfire
A specialist investigative unit of the Hellenic Fire Service was sent to determine how the wildfire started. No cause had been announced as of Monday evening.
The evacuation of Triada was ordered through Greece’s 112 emergency warning system, which authorities use to send location-based instructions to people threatened by wildfires and other natural disasters.
Evia has experienced some of Greece’s most destructive wildfires in recent years. Large areas of the island were devastated during the catastrophic fires of 2021, particularly in northern Evia, where flames burned for days and destroyed vast stretches of forest.
Monday’s blaze broke out as Greece remains in the closing weeks of its annual wildfire season, during which dry vegetation, high temperatures and strong winds can allow fires to spread rapidly.
Firefighters remained at the scene on Monday evening as authorities continued to monitor the fire and the areas surrounding Makrykapa and Triada.
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