Tragic Consequences as Wildfires Devastate Southern Greece

Wed Oct 22 2025 17:34:09 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A deadly wildfire in Keratea has resulted in one fatality and widespread destruction, prompting urgent evacuations and deployment of firefighting resources.

One elderly man has died as wildfires engulf southern Greece, particularly in Keratea, leading to extensive evacuations and significant firefighting efforts. Over 50 fires have erupted across the country amidst turbulent weather conditions, creating ongoing threats to both life and property.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a major wildfire in Keratea, southeast of Athens, claimed the life of an elderly man when flames consumed his home. This fire, one of the most destructive in a summer plagued by wildfires, ignited in the Manoutso area just after 14:00 local time on Friday. The fire service discovered the man's body in the Togani neighborhood, where the blaze initially originated.

The rapid spread of the fire, fueled by strong winds hitting 9 Beaufort, has resulted in more than 50 agricultural and forest fires breaking out across Greece in the past 24 hours. Authorities have issued urgent evacuation alerts to thousands of residents, with police coordinating the removal of individuals who remained in dangerous areas. At least seven neighborhoods have been evacuated, including various settlements that have suffered from the aggressive advancement of flames.

Lavreotiki's mayor, Dimitris Loukas, emphasized the challenges in containing this "extremely difficult" fire, which spans over seven kilometers and has crept into a nearby pine forest. If uncontained, there are concerns that the fire could escalate even further, threatening more residential areas.

In response, a considerable force of 190 firefighters, supported by ground teams and aerial resources including 11 aircraft and seven helicopters, has been mobilized to combat the inferno. Additionally, assistance from fire crews from the Czech Republic and Romania, as well as military engineering units, has been secured to bolster containment efforts.

The dire scenario worsened on the same day when another large wildfire erupted in Helidoni, part of Ancient Olympia in western Greece. Emergency alerts prompted residents in nearby areas to evacuate toward Pyrgos, while fire crews battled flames fueled by strong winds.

One individual trapped at the Helidoni football ground has been transported to a hospital with severe burns, highlighting the risks faced by those in the path of these wildfires. Authorities continue to warn of heightened risks for further outbreaks, especially across regions such as Attica, the Peloponnese, and western Greece, where the combination of extreme heat and dry conditions persist.