A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Chios, where five distinct wildfires are burning fiercely, exacerbated by strong winds. This crisis has led to the evacuation of residents in 17 communities and sparked an arson investigation to determine the cause of the fires, which erupted in a short timeframe.
The wildfires began on Sunday, spreading across Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios, with two additional outbreaks occurring early Monday. These fires have already inflicted damage to homes, crops, and local infrastructure, with reports indicating the destruction of several houses.
Current weather conditions on the island include a high-temperature warning, with temperatures reaching 30°C and forecasts predicting further heat later in the week. Approximately 190 firefighters are actively battling the flames, assisted by 11 aircraft and helicopters. An additional contingent of 90 firefighters is expected from Athens and Thessaloniki.
Local residents have rallied to support firefighting efforts, utilizing buckets of water and clothing to extinguish smaller flames. Reports from regional media highlight the extensive damage, including impacts on homes and at least one local distillery. Distressed residents remain unable to assess the condition of their properties.
Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis expressed deep concern following an emergency meeting, emphasizing the urgency of investigating the rapid eruption of multiple fires across the island. The Arson Investigation Unit of the fire service, in collaboration with local police, is currently pursuing this investigation.
The wildfires have also damaged the local power grid, leading to outages in the Vrontados area. Crews from the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network (HEDNO) have been dispatched from the nearby island of Lesvos to address repairs, while temporary power cuts are being implemented to aid firefighting efforts.
This incident marks the first major wildfire of the summer in Greece, a country familiar with severe fires due to extreme heat conditions. In 2012, a devastating wildfire on Chios decimated more than half of the island’s iconic mastic trees, crucial for both culinary and pharmaceutical uses, severely disrupting global supplies of this unique resin known as the "tears of Chios."
