Heartbreaking scenes unfolded in Liti, near Thessaloniki, where a devastating wildfire claimed the life of a 66-year-old man. Late on Tuesday night, a second body was discovered inside the burned-out family home, with authorities fearing it may be that of his 12-year-old son. However, the identification process has not yet been completed.

The boy’s 40-year-old mother was also seriously injured in the fire. She was taken to hospital with extensive burns, where she remains under treatment.

The family’s home, located within a forested area on the outskirts of the village, was completely destroyed. Images from the scene at first light revealed the full extent of the devastation.

Meanwhile, specialist fire service teams continue their investigation at the property.

Flames Engulfed the House Within Minutes

The house stood in a densely wooded area on the outskirts of Liti, and the flames surrounded it within a matter of minutes.

The property is isolated, with only a handful of other homes nearby. Access to the area is not considered difficult, however, as there is a road leading to the village, which is part of the Municipality of Oreokastro, around 30 to 40 minutes from Thessaloniki.

Firefighters initially found the 66-year-old man dead outside the house, while the 40-year-old mother was taken to Hippokrateio Hospital with burn injuries.

According to the information available, the woman told rescuers that her son and her partner had been left behind, prompting the authorities to launch an immediate response.

However, because of the intensity of the blaze, firefighters were initially unable to reach the house, as their priority was to bring the wildfire under control.

Once the fire had gradually been contained and it became possible to search the property, a second charred body was found late on Tuesday night. It is believed to be that of the 12-year-old boy, although formal identification is still pending.

As the wildfire spread, residents received two successive emergency alerts via Greece’s 112 emergency warning system, instructing them to evacuate.

It remains unclear, however, why the two victims were unable to escape in time despite the warnings.

According to reports, the family owned a large plot of land containing beehives and cultivated crops. Investigators are examining the possibility that they may have tried to save their property as the fire approached.

The precise circumstances in which they became trapped are expected to be established by the investigation being carried out by the competent authorities.

Meanwhile, Konstantinos Moschovopoulos, the Deputy Civil Protection Adviser, described Tuesday as “a tragic day”.

“The fire deteriorated rapidly because of the conditions. We had reversing winds, and every action that needed to be taken was carried out. Nevertheless, a tragic incident occurred. My deepest condolences to the family.”

Thessaloniki Forest Director Filothei Mella also expressed her condolences, saying:

“We are devastated by the loss of these two people. A full assessment of the agricultural and forest wildfire damage will be carried out over the coming days. What I would like to stress, on behalf of the Forest Service, is that we had removed dead and disease-affected trees from the area. These works were of crucial importance in preventing the wildfire from spreading further.”