Fire South of Athens Contained, but Wildfire Risk Remains High

A large wildfire that broke out south of Athens has been brought under control as of Friday morning, June 27, 2025. The blaze destroyed significant areas of vegetation and reached popular tourist destinations, including Palea Fokea and Thymari. Residents of five villages near Cape Sounion were evacuated.

Despite progress in containing this particular fire, Greece’s Civil Protection Service warns of a continued high risk of new wildfires in the Attica region and on the islands of the northern Aegean Sea. On the island of Chios, another major fire has consumed over 4,000 hectares of forest since Sunday. Although the situation has stabilized, around 200 firefighters remain on the scene to prevent flare-ups.

Greece, located in the southeastern Mediterranean, faces a high wildfire threat every summer due to drought, strong winds, and extreme heat. In the coming days, temperatures in Athens are expected to reach 37°C (98.6°F), with the first heatwave of the season lasting at least until Saturday. In 2024, wildfires destroyed approximately 45,000 hectares of land across the country.