Hundreds escape Greek wildfire by sea as blazes continue across Europe

Image source, Greek fire service By Aleks Phillips Published 31 July 2026 Hundreds of people in central Greece are being evacuated by sea from a coastal town 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 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.

The area of central Greece where the two fires broke out on Friday morning was considered the most at-risk due to high winds complicating firefighting efforts.

More than 200 people have been evacuated and another 100 are due to be taken by boat from Agios Vasileios, while emergency workers are attempting to safely remove those still in the town, according to Greek news agency Amna, citing fire officials.

People there had earlier been told by authorities to move further inland before the fire reached the outskirts of the town.

The fire further along the coast burnt through farmland before moving through the rural town of Xironomi.

Firefighters on Crete continue to tackle persistent hotspots in a wildfire that has torched thousands of hectares of land and prompted the temporary evacuation of 8,000 people.

Fires have also broken out on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos.

Most wildfires are sparked by humans, whether intentionally or accidentally, but climate change is making the conditions for them more common.

Image source, Reuters Image caption, A wildfire on Crete has burnt through thousands of hectares of land

Last winter was mild and wet, encouraging vegetation growth, which has then dried out in successive hot spells, generating fuel for wildfires.

In Spain, more than 200,000 hectares of land has burnt in 2026 - roughly five times above the average by this point in the year - while the burnt land in Portugal is also higher than usual, EU data shows.

Hundreds of firefighters battled a blaze near Valpaços in northern Portugal that has torn through 15,000 hectares including vineyards and olive groves, news agency Lusa reported, citing officials. Five people have been injured by the fire, which has been burning since Tuesday.

A fire in the Ávila region of Spain, which has now been stabilised, is now considered the largest recorded wildfire in the nation's history, while fires that burned 66,000 hectares to the west of Madrid are contained.

However, officials are warning of a high risk of fires breaking out or re-emerging across most of the country until at least Sunday.

There are currently four active fires along Turkey's Mediterranean coastline, including near the popular tourist centre of Antalya, according to the country's agricultural ministry.

It says there have been 206 wildfires across the country since Wednesday.

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