Greece, Central Macedonia: Fast-moving wildfire near Thessaloniki kills two people, leaves a child missing, injures a woman, and forces emergency evacuations amid extreme fire conditions
A rapidly spreading wildfire in northern Greece has claimed the lives of two people and forced the evacuation of residents from a village near the country’s second-largest city, as emergency crews continue battling flames fueled by dry weather and powerful winds.
Authorities confirmed that the first victim, a man, was found dead in a burned area near the village of Liti, approximately 15 kilometres northwest of Thessaloniki. The discovery came after firefighters gained access to an area that had been engulfed by flames earlier in the day.
Hours later, rescue teams found a second body inside a house located in a nearby forested area. Officials have not yet identified the victim, and investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
A woman rescued from the same property suffered burn injuries and was transported to hospital for treatment. Medical authorities said she is in stable condition and continues to receive care.
Emergency officials are also searching for a 12-year-old child who remains missing. Greek media reported that the child is believed to be the son of the man whose body was first discovered and the injured woman, raising fears that the death toll could increase.
The wildfire erupted at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday before spreading rapidly into nearby woodland. Strong winds and exceptionally dry vegetation allowed the blaze to expand within hours, creating an enormous fire front that stretched for nearly five kilometres.
Firefighters described the blaze as one of the most challenging incidents of the current fire season. Dense smoke and shifting winds complicated efforts to contain the flames, while repeated flare-ups threatened surrounding communities.
More than 100 firefighters have been deployed to the affected area, supported by dozens of fire engines and at least seven firefighting aircraft conducting continuous water drops over the advancing fire.
Ground crews worked throughout Tuesday evening and into the night to establish containment lines while aerial teams targeted the most active sections of the blaze whenever weather conditions allowed.
Authorities issued emergency evacuation alerts for residents of Liti as flames approached residential neighbourhoods. Local officials urged people to leave immediately, prioritising lives over property as conditions deteriorated rapidly.
Greek public broadcaster ERT reported that several homes sustained damage during the fire, although authorities have yet to release an official assessment of the destruction. Emergency crews continued inspecting affected neighbourhoods while ensuring all residents had safely evacuated.
As the fire advanced, attention also turned toward the nearby village of Melissochori, where emergency services closely monitored changing wind conditions that could push the flames closer to populated areas.
The exact cause of the wildfire remains unknown. Fire investigators are expected to begin examining the origin of the blaze once conditions become safe enough to access the affected zones.
The fire broke out during a period of elevated wildfire danger across much of Greece. Meteorological authorities had already placed the region under a high wildfire risk warning because of soaring temperatures, prolonged drought, and strong winds.
These weather conditions have significantly increased the likelihood of fast-moving fires capable of overwhelming firefighting resources within a short period.
Experts warn that low humidity and gusty winds can cause flames to spread unpredictably, making evacuation orders critical for residents living in vulnerable areas.
Wildfires have become an increasingly frequent feature of Greek summers in recent years. Prolonged heatwaves, below-average rainfall, and changing climate patterns have combined to create longer and more destructive fire seasons.
Successive summers have seen devastating fires destroy forests, homes, agricultural land, and wildlife habitats across multiple regions of the country.
The latest tragedy comes as Greece prepares for the height of its summer tourist season, when millions of visitors travel to its islands, coastal regions, and historic cities.
Authorities have repeatedly urged residents and tourists alike to remain vigilant during periods of extreme fire danger, avoiding activities that could accidentally ignite vegetation and following official evacuation instructions without delay.
Emergency response agencies remain on high alert nationwide as forecasts indicate that hot, dry weather may continue in the coming days, increasing the possibility of additional wildfire outbreaks.
Civil protection officials are coordinating with regional authorities, firefighters, police, and medical services to ensure rapid responses wherever new fires emerge.
The government has invested heavily in expanding aerial firefighting capabilities following several catastrophic wildfire seasons, but officials acknowledge that increasingly severe weather conditions continue to present enormous challenges.
Environmental experts say Greece, like many Mediterranean countries, is facing a growing wildfire threat as climate change contributes to hotter summers and more prolonged droughts.
The Mediterranean basin has been identified by climate scientists as one of the regions most vulnerable to rising temperatures, with longer fire seasons becoming increasingly common.
As firefighters continue working to bring the blaze under control, search teams remain focused on locating the missing child while investigators seek to determine exactly how the deadly wildfire unfolded.
For families displaced by the fire, the immediate priority remains safety and shelter, while communities brace for a full assessment of the human and environmental losses once the flames are finally extinguished.
The tragedy serves as another reminder of the growing danger posed by increasingly intense wildfires across southern Europe, where extreme weather continues to test emergency services and threaten lives every summer.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members