Greece will deploy more than 170 additional firefighters to the island of Chios on Monday as strong winds fuel wildfires for a second consecutive day, triggering widespread power outages and prompting the evacuation of at least 16 settlements.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in the municipality of Chios until July 22 to cope with the unfolding crisis, as multiple fires broke out across the island’s eastern and northern regions, including Kofinas, Agia Anna, Agios Makarios Vrontadon, Agios Markos and Agiasmata.
“The situation remains critical, as firefighting teams are still battling multiple active fronts—some dangerously close to residential areas,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said during a press briefing.
He said an additional 171 firefighters would reinforce nearly 190 personnel already on the island, assisted by four firefighting aircraft and 13 helicopters. Emergency services issued several evacuation orders throughout the day via the 112 alert system, with strong gusts complicating firefighting efforts and pushing smoke nearly 400 kilometers southward, as far as Crete.
The fires have scorched forest and pastureland near the capital, Chios town, and threatened areas known for producing mastiha, a prized natural resin harvested from mastic trees.
Greece, located at Europe’s southern edge, has faced an increasing number of destructive wildfires in recent years, which scientists attribute to intensifying climate change. The government has invested hundreds of millions of euros in upgrading firefighting equipment and compensating affected households and farmers.
This year, authorities have hired a record 18,000 firefighters in preparation for what is expected to be a challenging wildfire season.