Greece: Fire on Limnos Island Forces Evacuation of Tourists

A forest fire erupted on the Greek island of Limnos in the northern Aegean Sea on Friday afternoon, leading authorities to evacuate approximately 50 people, mostly vacationers, from beaches near the town of Thanos. Firefighters, supported by six water-dropping planes and three helicopters, are battling the flames, which are mainly spreading through scrubland.

The fire reportedly started at a landfill on the island, according to local news site Limnos Report. However, the mayor of Limnos, Eleonora Georga, has not confirmed this, stating only that the fire began along a nearby road. "The reason that caused this fire is unknown for now," she told Ertnews.

Greece experiences increasingly devastating wildfires each summer, often fanned by strong winds. This year has been no exception, despite the country being largely spared the heatwave that affected much of Europe. On average, about 40 fires ignite daily across the country during the peak season, requiring the intervention of firefighters and aerial support.

Since the start of 2026, Greek authorities have made 305 arrests related to wildfires, including 272 for negligence and 33 for arson. Tragically, two people died in fires on the island of Salamis near Athens on August 16. Earlier in August, a five-day fire near a seaside resort northwest of the capital destroyed over 11,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land.

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The reason that caused this fire is unknown for now.