Climate change, human activity and inadequate forest management continue to drive Greece’s increasingly destructive wildfire seasons, according to fire meteorologist Theodoros Giannaros of the National Observatory of Athens.
Speaking on the television programme “Koinonia Ora MEGA”, Giannaros said Greece has experienced a significant increase in the number of days with extreme fire weather conditions in recent years. These conditions allow wildfires to ignite more easily and spread far more rapidly than in the past.
He explained that although fire weather conditions have improved compared with recent days, vegetation remains extremely dry and highly flammable. Even moderate winds, he warned, can accelerate the spread of fires.
Giannaros urged the public to follow Civil Protection instructions and avoid any activity that could ignite a fire, noting that emergency services remain under significant pressure following multiple major blazes.
Three Factors Behind Greece’s Annual Wildfire Crisis
According to Giannaros, three main factors combine to create Greece’s recurring summer wildfire emergencies:
- Climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of dangerous fire weather conditions.
- Human activity, including negligence, risky outdoor activities and deliberate arson, which remains the primary cause of most wildfire ignitions.
- Poor land and forest management, including abandoned rural areas, the accumulation of dry vegetation and insufficient forest maintenance.
He also highlighted poor urban planning in areas such as Porto Germeno and Mati, where residential developments are located close to unmanaged vegetation. The combination of dense fuel loads and limited planning allows fires to spread rapidly once they approach populated communities.
Red Cross Rescuers Describe Challenging Conditions
Hellenic Red Cross rescuer Nikos Barlagiannis described the difficult conditions emergency teams faced during the recent wildfire at Porto Germeno.
He said the organisation immediately deployed five response teams, trained Samaritan rescuers and a mobile medical unit staffed by specialist nurses to provide first aid to firefighters and residents suffering from injuries, smoke inhalation and panic attacks.
Barlagiannis said strong winds caused the fire to spread so quickly that no part of the area remained completely safe. Red Cross teams also joined search operations for missing people in Psatha, where a flare-up further complicated firefighting and rescue efforts.
He praised the coordinated efforts of emergency responders, with rescue teams working alongside firefighters in mountainous terrain while other personnel provided medical assistance to affected residents.