Tourists flee as Greek wildfire hits resort; Croatia also fights blaze

Villages in Greece's Halkidiki region were evacuated by land and sea on Thursday as a wildfire, fueled by strong winds, consumed houses and trees near a resort during the peak holiday season. The strong gusts also complicated firefighting efforts along Croatia's popular Dalmatian coast, where a section of a major highway was closed due to a fire in the Lokva Rogoznica area, south of Omis.

This summer's successive heatwaves across Europe have exacerbated drought conditions, straining water supplies and leaving vegetation extremely dry. This has contributed to wildfires in Spain, France, and Greece scorching near-record amounts of land.

In Greece, people wearing masks, some carrying children or pets, boarded boats from the seaside town of Siviri as the fire advanced through a forest, casting dark gray smoke across the sky. The coast guard reported that over 300 people were evacuated by boat from Siviri, a town situated on a peninsula known for its woodlands, olive groves, and beaches, located south of Thessaloniki.

More than 140 firefighters, supported by nine aircraft and seven helicopters, battled the flames. One firefighter sustained injuries, and traffic was halted. "Our effort is focused on extinguishing the fire and the safe transport of people," a fire brigade spokesman stated. In Croatia, local media depicted flames engulfing trees near a main road and in populated coastal areas, with evacuations underway.

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Our effort is focused on extinguishing the fire and the safe transport of people.