Hundreds flee Greek coastal town by sea as wildfire spreads

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:49:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Hundreds evacuated by boat from the burning town of Agios Vasileios as strong winds fan the blaze, while Greece and the rest of Europe grapple with widespread wildfires.

Thousands of tourists and locals were forced to abandon the coastal town of Agios Vasileios in central Greece when a wildfire broke out and was quickly propelled by strong winds. The Greek fire service used boats to evacuate roughly 500 people, while firefighters battled a second blaze along the coast and continued hazards on Crete. The fire in Crete prompted the temporary evacuation of 8,000 people and was joined by new fires across other Greek islands, while Portugal and Spain face hundreds of hectares still burning. The surge of wildfires across Europe is linked to a sequence of heatwaves that have dried out vegetation, creating abundant fuel for fires that quickly propagate when winds pick up. Despite ongoing efforts to contain the blazes, European authorities warn of high risk of new or returning fires until at least Sunday.

Hundreds flee Greek coastal town by sea as wildfire spreads

People on a marina pier in Agios Vasileios awaiting evacuation

Around five hundred people, mostly tourists, were stranded in the coastal town of Agios Vasileios on Friday morning when a wildfire erupted and, bolstered by strong winds, spread rapidly. Firefighters have used boats to evacuate most of the residents, while emergency workers are still cautious about removing people who have remained inside the town.

The blaze is not isolated; a second fire sparked further along the coast, and officials are still battling a large wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that ignited earlier this week. Crete’s fire has scorched thousands of hectares and forced the evacuation of up to 8,000 people.

Europe is suffering a burst of wildfires, linked to a succession of heatwaves that left vegetation dry and highly flammable. In Spain, more than 200,000 hectares burned by mid‑July, and Portugal’s vineyards and olive groves have been scorched as well.

The Greek fire service reports that over 200 people have already been evacuated from Agios Vasileios and another 100 are expected to be transported by boat. Residents had received earlier warnings to move inland before the town’s outskirts were hit by the flames.

Along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, four active fires are reported, including one near the tourist focus of Antalya. The country’s agricultural ministry says 206 wildfires have ignited since the beginning of the week.

Public health and emergency officials urge the public to stay alert, as the risk of additional or re‑igniting fires remains high across much of the region until at least Sunday.