Coastal visitors were forced into sea rescues after a wildfire rapidly surrounded Agios Vasileios in central Greece, leaving about 500 people stranded.
The blaze ignited near Agios Vasileios in Viotia on Friday morning and, fed by strong winds, advanced quickly, local media report. Most of those trapped were tourists, according to those reports, as crews began evacuations by boat.
Greek news agency Amna, citing fire officials, said more than 200 people had already been taken from the town and another 100 were due to be moved by boat, while emergency workers worked to remove others still inside Agios Vasileios. Authorities had earlier instructed residents and visitors to relocate further inland before flames reached the town's outskirts.
Another fire erupted further along the same coastline, burning through farmland before reaching the rural town of Xironomi. Meanwhile firefighters continued to battle a large wildfire on Crete that began earlier this week, a blaze that has torched thousands of hectares and prompted the temporary evacuation of 8,000 people. Smaller fires have also been reported on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos.
Greece is one of several European countries confronting destructive blazes after a run of heatwaves created favourable conditions for fires. Fire services in Portugal and Spain remain engaged on multiple fronts as a fresh heatwave this week raised concern that a major fire near Madrid could reignite.
EU data shows more than 200,000 hectares in Spain have burned in 2026, roughly five times the average by this point in the year. In northern Portugal, hundreds of firefighters tackled a blaze near Valpaços that has torn through 15,000 hectares, including vineyards and olive groves, Lusa reported, citing officials. Five people have been injured and the fire has been burning since Tuesday.
A fire in Spain's Ávila region has been stabilised and is now regarded as the largest recorded wildfire in the nation's history, while blazes that consumed 66,000 hectares west of Madrid are contained. Spanish officials warned of a high risk of new outbreaks or re-emergence across most of the country until at least Sunday.
Beyond the Iberian Peninsula, Turkey's agricultural ministry reported four active fires along the Mediterranean coast, including close to the popular resort area of Antalya, and said there had been 206 wildfires across the country since Wednesday.
Officials note most wildfires start because of human activity, intentionally or accidentally, and that climate change is increasing the frequency of the conditions that let them spread. A mild, wet winter encouraged vegetation growth, which has since dried in successive hot spells, producing abundant fuel for the current season's fires. Firefighters will continue to battle persistent hotspots as authorities manage evacuations and warn of elevated risk through the coming days.
