GREECE — Greek authorities ordered evacuations for residents of two villages in the central region of Fthiotida on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as firefighters battled an active wildfire. More than 135 personnel and 25 aircraft, including 19 water-dropping planes and six helicopters, responded to the blaze alongside specialized forest fire units and volunteers.

In northern Greece, firefighters identified the body of a 12-year-old boy inside a home destroyed by a separate forest fire on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The boy's father was found outside the property on the same day. The incident occurred in a woodland area northeast of Thessaloniki. The boy's mother is receiving hospital treatment for burns.

The fire near Liti, approximately 15 kilometers northwest of Thessaloniki, broke out at about 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Residents were urged to evacuate, and more than 100 firefighters worked to contain the blaze. A woman sustained burns to her hands after reportedly attempting to extinguish flames, and a small number of properties were damaged. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

On Wednesday, additional wildfires ignited in the northern region of Halkidiki, on the island of Salamina, and in southern Greece. The fire department reported that these blazes were quickly contained.

Context

Wildfires have caused damage and loss of life in Greece in recent years. In 2018, a wildfire east of Athens resulted in more than 100 fatalities. In 2023, a wildfire in a remote nature reserve in northeastern Greece was recorded as the largest in the European Union. In May 2026, Greece launched four satellites into low orbit to assist in wildfire detection.