Wildfires are ravaging the Greek island of Chios, prompting mass evacuations and investigations into the cause of the blazes amid extreme heat conditions.
Wildfires Sweep Through Greek Island of Chios Prompting Emergency Response
Wildfires Sweep Through Greek Island of Chios Prompting Emergency Response
A state of emergency has been declared on Chios as wildfires threaten communities.
The article text:
A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Chios where five separate wildfires are currently wreaking havoc, propelled by strong winds. Authorities have evacuated residents from 17 communities while an investigation into suspected arson has been launched due to the rapid ignition of multiple fronts.
The fires first broke out on Sunday in Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios, followed by additional blazes in Agios Markos shortly after midnight and in Agiasmata on Monday morning. The wildfires have already caused damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure, leading to reports of multiple houses being destroyed.
Weather conditions have exacerbated the situation, with high-temperature warnings in place for Chios, which has reached around 30C and is expected to rise in the coming days. Approximately 190 firefighters are currently battling the flames, supported by 11 aircraft and helicopters, with an additional 90 firefighters en route from Athens and Thessaloniki, according to local authorities.
Images emerging from the island depict locals assisting firefighters, dousing flames with buckets of water and employing clothing to extinguish smaller spot fires. Local media has reported significant damage to several houses and at least one distillery, with some residents expressing concerns about being unable to check on their properties.
Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, Ioannis Kefalogiannis, visited Chios and expressed his deep concern about the outbreak of multiple fires across the island "without a clear explanation," emphasizing that a thorough investigation is necessary.
An Arson Investigation Unit from the fire service, in collaboration with local police, is probing the causes of the wildfires. The firefighting efforts have also been complicated by damage to the local power grid, resulting in outages in the wider Vrontados area. Teams from the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network (HEDNO) have been deployed from the neighboring island of Lesvos for repair work, and some planned power cuts have been initiated to assist firefighting operations.
This marks the first major wildfire incident this summer in a country that has historically faced devastating blazes and extreme temperatures. In 2012, Chios experienced a significant wildfire that destroyed over half of its iconic mastic, a tree resin integral to global culinary and pharmaceutical supplies.
A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Chios where five separate wildfires are currently wreaking havoc, propelled by strong winds. Authorities have evacuated residents from 17 communities while an investigation into suspected arson has been launched due to the rapid ignition of multiple fronts.
The fires first broke out on Sunday in Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios, followed by additional blazes in Agios Markos shortly after midnight and in Agiasmata on Monday morning. The wildfires have already caused damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure, leading to reports of multiple houses being destroyed.
Weather conditions have exacerbated the situation, with high-temperature warnings in place for Chios, which has reached around 30C and is expected to rise in the coming days. Approximately 190 firefighters are currently battling the flames, supported by 11 aircraft and helicopters, with an additional 90 firefighters en route from Athens and Thessaloniki, according to local authorities.
Images emerging from the island depict locals assisting firefighters, dousing flames with buckets of water and employing clothing to extinguish smaller spot fires. Local media has reported significant damage to several houses and at least one distillery, with some residents expressing concerns about being unable to check on their properties.
Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, Ioannis Kefalogiannis, visited Chios and expressed his deep concern about the outbreak of multiple fires across the island "without a clear explanation," emphasizing that a thorough investigation is necessary.
An Arson Investigation Unit from the fire service, in collaboration with local police, is probing the causes of the wildfires. The firefighting efforts have also been complicated by damage to the local power grid, resulting in outages in the wider Vrontados area. Teams from the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network (HEDNO) have been deployed from the neighboring island of Lesvos for repair work, and some planned power cuts have been initiated to assist firefighting operations.
This marks the first major wildfire incident this summer in a country that has historically faced devastating blazes and extreme temperatures. In 2012, Chios experienced a significant wildfire that destroyed over half of its iconic mastic, a tree resin integral to global culinary and pharmaceutical supplies.
