Halkidiki wildfire under control, smaller blazes persist

A major wildfire on Greece's Halkidiki peninsula is now under control, according to the fire service. Firefighters are still working to monitor and extinguish numerous smaller fires and smoldering embers across the western part of the peninsula. The blaze broke out Thursday afternoon near the resort town of Siviri on the Kassandra peninsula, spreading rapidly through the densely wooded area. Authorities issued an evacuation order for residents and tourists via Greece's emergency alert system. The coast guard and private citizens rescued many people by boat from the threatened coastal zone, with a total of 481 people evacuated by sea. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries during the containment efforts. The region is currently experiencing strong northerly winds with gusts exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, increasing the risk of existing embers reigniting and new fires spreading quickly. Consequently, several regions remain under a very high or extreme forest fire danger warning.

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Numerous smaller fires and smoldering embers still need to be monitored and extinguished.