In July 2023, multiple
wildfire
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
s started in
Greece
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
. They resulted in at least 28 deaths and injured 75 people, with over 80 wildfires being recorded. Seventy-nine people were arrested for arson.
High temperatures reached , with highs anticipated to reach in
Rhodes
Rhodes (; ) is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece and is their historical capital; it is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, ninth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Administratively, the island forms a separ ...
. Forecasters were suggesting that the heatwave engulfing Greece was set to be the longest in its history, lasting up to 16–17 days, surpassing the 1987 heatwave. It was also expected to be the hottest July recorded in more than 50 years.
Following a series of heatwaves and wildfires taking place over Europe, wildfires in Greece started on 17 July 2023. The
Greek government
The Government of Greece (Greek language, Greek: Κυβέρνηση της Ελλάδας), officially the Government of the Hellenic Republic (Κυβέρνηση της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας) is the collective body of the Gre ...
established a Crisis Management Unit to respond to the situation. A wildfire that started on the Greek island of Rhodes on 18 July led to the
evacuation
Evacuation or Evacuate may refer to:
* Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), patient evacuation in combat situations
* Casualty movement, the procedure for moving a casualty from its initial location to an ambulance
* Emergency evacuation, removal of pers ...
of four locations, including two seaside resorts. Approximately 2,000 people, including tourists, were safely evacuated by sea, accounting for less than 10% of the island's tourist accommodations, according to the Fire Corps spokesman. On 22 August, eighteen bodies were found in a forested area of northern Greece; initial reports suggested those who died may have been migrants. Additionally, as days passed with more land being burned and property being destroyed more and more, civilians started complaining about the lack of strength in Greece's firefighting capabilities—something that they attribute to government mismanagement.
Cause
According to a senior climate crisis official, 667 fires were caused by a "human hand", blaming either negligence or arson. 79 arrests were made as of late August.
By 25 August, officials had arrested 163 people on fire-related charges since the start of the fire prevention season, including 118 for negligence and 24 for deliberate arson, and the police had made a further 18 arrests according to government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis.
Intense winds exacerbated Greece's wildfires, sparking over 50 new blazes amid hot, dry weather; casualties include two deaths and two injured firefighters on August 21, 2023.
Impact by area
Attica
Three major wildfires broke out in the area of
Attica
Attica (, ''Attikḗ'' (Ancient Greek) or , or ), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the entire Athens metropolitan area, which consists of the city of Athens, the capital city, capital of Greece and the core cit ...
on 17 July, in Kalyvia, Loutraki, and Dervenochoria. Greek authorities directed villagers to evacuate their homes in southern Athens. On 20 July, wildfires reignited in Athens as a result of wind, which forced an evacuation effort in the city. On August 22, another major wildfire broke out near Fyli, in a monastery. The 25 km/h strong winds made it very difficult to put out and resulted in the area being evacuated. The fire progressed during the night and on August 23 it reached the Parnitha mountain. On August 24 the fire was put out. The fire destroyed a few homes.
Corfu
On 23 July, mass evacuations were ordered in
Corfu
Corfu ( , ) or Kerkyra (, ) is a Greece, Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands; including its Greek islands, small satellite islands, it forms the margin of Greece's northwestern frontier. The island is part of the Corfu (regio ...
following major wildfire breakouts on the island.
People in Rou,
Katavolo, Kentroma, Tritsi, Kokokila, Sarakiniatika, Plagia, Kalami, Vlachatika, and Kavalerena were told to evacuate and move to Ipsos, while people in Viglatouri and Nisaki were advised to evacuate to Barbati.
Evia
In
Karystos
Karystos () or Carystus is a small coastal town on the Greek island of Euboea. It has about 5,000 inhabitants (12,000 in the municipality). It lies 129 km south of Chalkis. From Athens it is accessible by ferry via Marmari from the port of ...
, the flames reached a height of and the mayor asked for increased use of aerial vehicles in extinguishing operations. A man was reported to have died from heat stroke as a result of the wildfires on the island of
Evia. On 25 July 2023, a
Canadair CL-215
The Canadair CL-215 (Scooper) is the first model in a series of amphibious aircraft, amphibious flying boats designed and built by Canada, Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair, and later produced by Bombardier Aerospace, Bombardier. It is o ...
crashed in Karystos, killing its two pilots, with a similar incident that happened almost 15 years to the day in the same area with the same casualties. Later the same day, a 41-year-old shepherd was found charred in an inaccessible area outside the village of Platanistos in Karystos.
Magnesia
Two major wildfires broke out in the area of
Magnesia on 26 July, in
Almyros
Almyros or Halmyros (, ) is a town and a municipality of the regional units of Greece, regional unit of Magnesia (regional unit), Magnesia, modern regions of Greece, region of Thessaly, Greece. It lies in the center of prosperous fertile plain know ...
and near
Velestino
Velestino (; ) is a town in the Magnesia regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. It is the seat of the municipality Rigas Feraios.
Location
It is situated at elevation on a hillside, at the southeastern end of the Thessalian Plain. It is west of ...
. The fires managed to reach
Nea Anchialos Air Base
Nea Anchialos National Airport () is an airport located near the town of Nea Anchialos in Greece. It serves the regional unit of Magnesia and is also known as ''Central Greece Airport''.
Overview
The airport is at an elevation of above mean ...
and the Industrial Zone of
Volos
Volos (; ) is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about north of Athens and south of Thessaloniki. It is the capital of the Magnesia (regional unit), Magnesia regional unit of the Thessaly Region. Volos ...
. Many
F-16
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it e ...
s were ordered to move from
Nea Anchialos Air Base
Nea Anchialos National Airport () is an airport located near the town of Nea Anchialos in Greece. It serves the regional unit of Magnesia and is also known as ''Central Greece Airport''.
Overview
The airport is at an elevation of above mean ...
to
Larissa Air Base
Larissa State Airport "Thessaly" () was built in 1912. It was the commercial airport of Larissa until 1997 when it closed for civilian traffic. Currently the airport is being used only by military aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force, whose 110th ...
for safety reasons.
The wildfire reached an ammunition warehouse and several explosions occurred, triggering the evacuation of the
Nea Anchialos
Nea Anchialos () is a town and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Volos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated southwest of Volos and north of Almyr ...
town.
Rhodes

The island of
Rhodes
Rhodes (; ) is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece and is their historical capital; it is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, ninth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Administratively, the island forms a separ ...
suffered multiple wildfires, which resulted in over an estimated 19,000 people being evacuated by land and sea. Emergency alerts were sent to residents on the island to warn them of the wildfires and to evacuate.
The fire department in Rhodes stated the fires there prompted the "largest evacuation operation" ever on the island, with the fire department using 10 firefighting airplanes, eight firefighting helicopters, over 260 firefighters, 49 fire trucks and hundreds of volunteers, among others, to tackle the blaze on the island.
Authorities declared a state of emergency on 20 July 2023 in three municipalities of Rhodes, including Lindos, which is home to many tourist villages.
On 21 July, the Civil Protection ordered the evacuation of the village of Laerma, which is about 10 km from the coastal tourist resorts.
On 23 July 2023, it was announced that 1,200 extra people would be evacuated from the villages of Pefki, Lindos, and Kalathos.
Flights to Rhodes from British package holiday company
Jet2.com
Jet2.com Limited is a British low-cost airline based at Leeds Bradford Airport, England. It offers scheduled and charter flights from the United Kingdom. As of 2022, it is the third-largest scheduled airline in the UK, behind easyJet and Br ...
were cancelled until 30 July 2023 and from
TUI until 26 July 2023.
[
On 2 August, the Ministry of Tourism lifted the state of emergency on Rhodes and offered complimentary travel accommodations to tourists who were evacuated from the island in the previous month.
]
Alexandroupolis
A major fire started near the city of Alexandroupolis
Alexandroupolis (, ) or Alexandroupoli (, ) is a city in Greece and the capital of the Evros (regional unit), Evros regional unit. It is the largest city in Greek Thrace and the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with a population of 71,75 ...
in eastern Western Thrace
Western Thrace or West Thrace (, '' ytikíThráki'' ), also known as Greek Thrace or Aegean Thrace, is a geographical and historical region of Greece, between the Nestos and Evros rivers in the northeast of the country; East Thrace, which lie ...
on August 21. The fire was stated to be "the largest recorded in the EU" up to this time by EU officials, with around 73.000 hectares (730 square kilometers) burnt. Most of the burnt area is concentrated in the Dadia Forest. Several migrants died when they got trapped by the flames near the Dadia Forest. As of the 28th of August the vast majority of the Dadia forest as well as the surrounding pine forests have been destroyed with more than 80,000 hectares (198,000 acres) scorched. On the island of Samothraki
Samothrace (also known as Samothraki; , ) is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. It is a municipality within the Evros regional unit of Thrace. The island is long, in size and has a population of 2,596 (2021 census). Its main industries ...
a power outage occurred because of the Alexandroupolis fire. The general hospital of Alexandroupolis had to evacuate its patients. The fire had almost reached the hospital.
Kavala
A major fire was also raging near the city of Kavala
Kavala (, ''Kavála'' ) is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala regional unit.
It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos and on the A2 motorway, a one-and ...
.
Parnitha
There is also a major forest fire near the infamous forest of Parnitha
Mount Parnitha (, , Katharevousa and ''Parnis''/''Parnes''; sometimes Parnetha) is a lightly forested mountain range north of Athens, the highest on the peninsula of Attica, with an elevation of 1,413 m, and a summit known as Karavola (Καρα� ...
close to Athens
Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
. Several homes have been burnt to the ground. Because of the fire most of Athens is experiencing heavy smog. In combination with other major fires in Greece most of Greece is experiencing some form of smog.
International assistance
The European Union announced that more than 450 firefighters and seven airplanes would be deployed to help the situation in Greece, with 81 firefighters, 26 vehicles, and three planes specifically helping the situation in Rhodes.
On 23 July, in response to the wildfires in Rhodes, the UK Government announced that they would deploy a Rapid Deployment Team consisting of responders to support British nationals on the island, being based at Rhodes International Airport
Rhodes International Airport "Diagoras" (Greek: Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Ρόδου "Διαγόρας"), or Diagoras International Airport , is located on the West side of the island of Rhodes in Greece. The facility is located jus ...
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria deployed 70 firefighters with 14 vehicles to assist Greece.
Czech Republic
Czech Republic deployed 79 personnel (firefighters and other), 33 vehicles and a helicopter with 6 personnel.
Croatia
Croatia deployed a firefighting plane as part of EU assistance.
Egypt
Three firefighting helicopters were deployed from Egypt.
France
Two firefighting planes were sent by France.
Israel
Israel sent two firefighting planes to assist in fighting the fire.
Italy
Italy sent two firefighting planes as reinforcements.
Jordan
Jordan sent four firefighting helicopters to Greece.
Malta
Malta sent 20 firefighters to Greece. This was the first time that Malta had sent firefighters abroad.
Poland
Poland deployed 149 firefighters, along with 49 firefighting vehicles.
Romania
Romania sent 130 firefighters, with 25 firefighting vehicles, deployed alongside their Greek counterparts.
Serbia
Serbia sent 38 firefighters, along with 14 vehicles.
Slovakia
31 firefighters, along with 15 firefighting vehicles, were deployed from Slovakia.
Turkey
Two firefighting planes and one helicopter were sent by Turkey at the request of the President.
Reactions
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Kyriakos Mitsotakis (, ; born 4 March 1968) is a Greek politician currently serving as the prime minister of Greece since July 2019, except for a month between May and June 2023. Mitsotakis has been president of the New Democracy (Greece), New ...
thanked European civil protection agencies for their assistance in helping the situation.
Gallery
File:Dervenochoriafiresmokenextdaygr2023.jpg, Smoke cloud from the Dervenochoria fire as seen from Ilion at 2:20 pm on 18 July 2023.
File:Drevenochoriasmoke2nddayfire2023froamilion.jpg, Smoke cloud from Drevenochoria fire as seen at 2:40 pm on 19 July 2023 from Ilion.
File:FyliAugust22Smoke.jpg, August 22 Fire at approximately 12:50 am, as seen from Ilion, Attica, burning near Fyli emitting large amounts of smoke.
See also
* List of wildfires
This is a list of notable wildfires.
Africa
* Knysna fires, 2017 Knysna fires, South Africa
* 2021 Algeria wildfires
* 2021 Table Mountain fire, South Africa
* 2022 Moroccan wildfires
* 2024 Western Cape wildfires, South Africa
* 2025 Table ...
* 2007 Greek forest fires
The 2007 Greek forest fires were a series of massive wildfire, forest fires that broke out in several areas across Greece throughout the summer of 2007. The most destructive and lethal infernos broke out on 23 August, expanded rapidly and raged ...
* 2009 Greek forest fires
* 2009 Mediterranean wildfires
The 2009 Mediterranean wildfires were a series of wildfires that broke out across France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey in July 2009. Strong winds spread the fire during a hot, dry period of weather killing at least eight people, six of whom we ...
* 2012 Chios Forest Fire
* 2018 Attica wildfires
A series of wildfires in Greece, during the 2018 European heat wave, began in the coastal areas of Attica (region), Attica in July 2018. 104 people were confirmed dead from the Mati fires. The fires were, at that time, the second-deadliest wildfi ...
* 2021 Greece wildfires
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
* 2021 Turkish wildfires
Since the 1940's the number of wildfires in Turkey per year had increased from around 1000 to around 3500. In 2007, the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report said that "Warmer, drier conditions will lead to more frequent and prolonged droughts, as well a ...
* 2022 European and Mediterranean wildfires
In June through August 2022, parts of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa were affected by wildfires. The bulk of the fires affected Mediterranean countries, with the main areas affected being Algeria, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
...
* 2023 Canadian wildfires
Beginning in March 2023, and with increased intensity starting in June, Canada was affected by a record-setting series of wildfires. All 13 Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories were affected, with large fires in Alberta ...
* 2023 Hawaii wildfires
The 2023 Hawaii wildfires were a series of wildfires that broke out in early August 2023 in the U.S. state of Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. The wind-driven fires prompted evacuations and caused widespread damage, killing at least ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greece wildfires, 2023
2023 wildfires
Wildfires
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
2023 fires in Europe
2020s in Athens
Wildfires
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
Wildfires
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
Wildfires
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
2023 wildfires
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious and cultural significance in many societies ...
2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
History of Achaea
History of Corinthia
History of Corfu
History of Euboea
History of Rhodes
History of Phthiotis
History of Western Thrace
Modern history of Thessaly
Saronikos, Attica
East Attica
Evros (regional unit)