Greek Wildfires Traps Hundreds, Boat Evacuations Race Amid Continental Blaze

Mon Sep 14 2026 23:44:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Hundreds displaced by Greece's wildfires, boats race to safety amid continent‑wide burning.

A wildfire that erupted near Agios Vasileios in central Greece has left about 500 people stranded, most of them tourists, who had to be ferried to safety by boat. The blaze, sparked by strong winds, spread rapidly and forced the evacuation of the coastal town, while another fire raged further along the coast. Simultaneously, Greece’s Crete island faces a massive wildfire that scorched thousands of hectares, prompting the temporary exodus of 8,000 residents. The crisis unfolds as heatwaves ripple across Europe, with Portugal and Spain battling extensive blazes and a new heatwave threatening to ignite further fires.

Greek Wildfires Traps Hundreds, Boat Evacuations Race Amid Continental Blaze

Hundreds of people in central Greece are being evacuated by sea after the coastal town they were in became hemmed in by one of the many wildfires raging across the country.

Around 500 people, mostly tourists, were left stranded after a fire erupted near Agios Vasileios in Viotia on Friday morning and spread quickly on high winds, local media report. Authorities had warned residents to move inland, but the blaze reached the outskirts before people could leave.

Marina pier evacuation in Agios Vasileios — Image: Greek fire service

While Greek officials fight a second fire further along the coast, crews continue to battle a persistent blaze on Crete that has torched thousands of hectares and led to the evacuation of 8,000 people. Fires have also bloomed on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos.

Across Europe, heatwaves and dry conditions have created tinder‑rich landscapes. In Portugal, a blaze near Valpaços has burned 15,000 hectares of vineyards and olive groves, while Spain’s largest recorded wildfire in the Ávila region has burned 66,000 hectares. In Turkey, four active fires along the Mediterranean coast have already claimed 206 incidents since Wednesday.

Most wildfires are sparked by human activity—whether intentional or accidental—but climate change is making the conditions for them more favorable, experts warn. The European Union’s fire‑warning systems predict high fire risk across most countries until at least Sunday, as another heatwave sweeps the continent.