Greek Wildfire Triggers Evacuations, Claims Two Lives
Two people have been found dead as an out‑of‑control wildfire burns in northern Greece, forcing residents of a nearby village to evacuate.
The body of a man was discovered in a charred area near Liti, about 15km northwest of Thessaloniki. A second body, yet to be identified, was found later in a house in the forested area near the village.
A woman rescued near the house suffered burn injuries but is now in stable condition in hospital. The fire also left a 12‑year‑old child missing.
More than 100 firefighters, dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft are attempting to contain the blaze, battling a 5‑km wall of flame that has so far continued to spread. The cause of the wildfire, which ignited around 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT) on Tuesday, has not yet been determined.
The region was under a high wildfire risk warning, with dry conditions and high winds exacerbating the spread and causing repeated flare‑ups.
Residents in Liti were urged to flee their homes while Greek broadcaster ERT reported only a small number of properties had been damaged by the fire. The blaze is moving toward the nearby village of Melissochori.
The missing child is believed to be the son of the man found dead earlier and the injured woman.
This incident adds to a string of forest fires that have plagued Greece during recent summer droughts and heatwaves, just before the country’s peak tourist season.
By Nikos Papanikolaou
