A large forest fire broke out on Thursday afternoon in the tourist region of Halkidiki, in northern Greece, forcing authorities to mobilize large firefighting forces and begin the evacuation of residents and tourists. There are 142 firefighters and 51 vehicles on the ground, supported by nine aircraft and seven helicopters.
The fire is spreading in a forest area about 90 kilometers south of Thessaloniki, with flames in the dense pine forest reaching up to 20-30 meters high. Authorities have issued three evacuation orders for the tourist-heavy areas of Siviri and Fourka. At Fourka beach, dozens of holidaymakers were evacuated by sea, while 15 small boats were mobilized to transport them.
Smoke has blanketed the sky above the tourist area. According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, the fire front is about three kilometers long and is moving towards the sea. Strong winds are favoring the spread of the flames, which have approached residential areas. The evacuation has included about 70 percent of the residents and visitors of the affected area.
Greek authorities have declared the highest level of alert for the risk of wildfires in several regions, including Halkidiki. Traffic has been banned in forest areas of Halkidiki, while emergency teams continue their efforts to bring the fire under control. The risk remains very high on Friday, when winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour are forecast.
Authorities have urged residents and tourists to respect evacuation orders and civil protection instructions. /Telegraph