Greece places several Aegean islands and Crete on 'Red Code' due to extreme fire risk

Several regions in Greece, including the islands of Samos and Ikaria in the North Aegean, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Kos, and Karpathos in the South Aegean, and the entire island of Crete, have been placed on a 'Red Code' alert for Sunday, August 30, 2026. This heightened state of readiness is due to a forecast of a very high risk of fires.

The decision was made by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection based on the daily fire risk forecast map, which indicated Category 4 danger for these areas. This classification signifies an extreme risk of fires breaking out and spreading rapidly.

With the 'Red Code' activation, the National Mechanism is put on full alert. This involves deploying necessary personnel, resources, and equipment to effectively respond to any potential fires and their consequences. Local and Regional Operational Coordination Bodies for Civil Protection will be convened in the affected areas to coordinate preparedness measures and operational actions for fire prevention and response.

The Fire Service has announced its operational readiness, with a map shared via Twitter indicating 'very high risk' (Category 4) in Crete, the Dodecanese, Samos, and Ikaria. Several other areas across the mainland and islands face a 'high risk' (Category 3). The coordinated efforts aim to mitigate the impact of potential wildfires during this critical period.