Wildfire Forces Evacuations on Greek Island of Paros

A major wildfire is raging on the popular Greek Aegean island of Paros, forcing the evacuation of several villages as fire crews battle the advancing flames. Residents in threatened areas have been instructed by emergency services to seek refuge on the beaches.

Firefighting operations, which began Tuesday with dozens of crews on the island, have requested support from neighboring islands like Naxos and Syros, as well as the mainland. The village of Agkairia is reportedly under particular threat. Flights by water-dropping planes and helicopters were halted overnight but are expected to resume at dawn.

Efforts to contain the blaze are being complicated by strong winds, which meteorologists predict will intensify. Despite Greece largely escaping heatwaves this year, the country has learned from devastating wildfires in previous years. The fire service has been bolstered with 85 state-owned water-dropping planes and 18,000 professional and seasonal firefighters.

Advanced technology, including over 100 drone bases for early detection and four satellites designed for firefighting, is also being deployed. High wildfire risk warnings are in effect across several regions, including Evros, Crete, and the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, and Psara, with lower-level warnings in Athens and the Peloponnese.