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Massive wildfire front from Porto Germeno reaches Mount Kithairon, evacuation orders issued for Megara

Firefighters battle flames descending toward Veniza after gale-force winds eased enough for aerial drops over Agia Paraskevi and Mytikas, while a 112 alert ordered residents of Alepochori, Psatha, Louba and Zachouli to evacuate towards Megara

A vast wildfire front sweeping out from Porto Germeno is tearing through the border region of Attica and Boeotia, showing every sign of developing into a mega-fire. Strong to gale-force winds blowing throughout the day repeatedly grounded aerial water bombers, forcing firefighting aircraft to operate only intermittently, whenever conditions allowed. As the winds eased slightly in the afternoon, aircraft resumed water drops over Agia Paraskevi and Mytikas.

The fire has reached the summit of Mount Kithairon, the mountain range straddling the Attica-Boeotia border, and is now descending towards Veniza, an area for which an evacuation order has been issued.

Given the huge scale of the blaze burning at Porto Germeno, an emergency 112 alert was sent ordering the evacuation of five areas: Alepochori, Psatha, Veniza, Louba and Zachouli.

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“MegaFire” horror grows as Porto Germeno blaze threatens more than 100 homes

Gale-force winds are hampering firefighting efforts at Porto Germeno as officials warn the blaze is taking on the characteristics of a “MegaFire,” with more than 100 homes already burnt or damaged and four settlements under evacuation orders

The fire front burning at Porto Germeno is taking on dramatic proportions, with all indications suggesting it is developing into what is being described as a “MegaFire.” Strong to gale-force winds are severely hampering the work of firefighting forces, in many cases making it impossible for crews to operate.

The blaze is threatening the settlements of Agia Paraskevi and Mytikas.

Dimitris Pagonis, deputy mayor of Mandra-Eidyllia, estimated that more than 100 homes have been burnt or damaged. Evacuation orders have been issued for residents of the settlements of Agia Paraskevi, Mytikas, Kryo Pigadi and Agios Nektarios.

Two firefighters hospitalised after Boeotia wildfire

Two volunteer forest firefighters battling the blaze in Boeotia have been hospitalised within the past 48 hours, as crews continue fighting multiple active fire fronts under severe conditions across the region

Firefighters have been battling multiple fire fronts under particularly difficult conditions over the past 48 hours. Two volunteer forest firefighters who were deployed on the fire front in Boeotia are currently being treated in hospital.

Yesterday, a 50-year-old volunteer forest firefighter presented at Thebes General Hospital with cardiac symptoms. Tests revealed he had suffered a heart attack, and he was immediately transferred to Thriasio Hospital for further treatment.

Separately, this morning a 40-year-old forest firefighter was taken to Thebes General Hospital with breathing difficulties and admitted to the Pathology Clinic for observation.

Fire Service releases shocking video of firefighters battling extreme conditions

The Fire Service has released dramatic footage on X showing firefighters on foot advancing into a wall of flames on all sides, as crews across the country continue battling to contain the wildfires under extremely dangerous conditions

The Fire Service has released a striking video capturing the extreme conditions under which firefighters are operating, via its official account on the platform X.

The footage is awe-inspiring, showing the effort of the men and women of the Fire Service as they work to hold back raging fire fronts, battling the flames in order to contain their spread and bring them under control.

The striking images show firefighters approaching on foot a wooded area that has been engulfed by fire, with the front burning from end to end while flames rise around them on all sides, creating a suffocating and extremely dangerous scene.

See the video

Η μάχη 🔥🔥 είναι μεγάλη και δύσκολη… Εμείς συνεχίζουμε… 🚒🙏#πυροσβέστες #Firefighters pic.twitter.com/Dta5hTIL1Y

— Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα (@pyrosvestiki) August 1, 2026

UPDATES

The wildfire raging in Boeotia is taking on dramatic proportions, with all signs pointing to it acquiring the characteristics of a megafire.

Strong to gale-force winds are hampering firefighting efforts, in many cases making it impossible for crews to operate. Repeated flare-ups are posing a particular threat to the Agia Paraskevi area, outside Porto Germeno.

The road has been closed, residents are fleeing the area, and firefighting forces are also pulling back.

The fire front burning in the Aigialeia area has improved. The situation has also improved in Rethymno, where firefighters are battling scattered outbreaks.

Houses are burning in Porto Germeno, where the fire has split into three fronts. The deputy mayor of Mandra estimated that more than 100 homes have been burned or damaged.

Residents of the settlements of Agia Paraskevi, Kryo Pigadi and Agios Nektarios have been ordered to evacuate.

The settlement of Livadostra in Boeotia is under threat, and an evacuation order has been issued for its residents. Aircraft are operating intermittently, whenever conditions allow, due to the gale-force winds.

Tournos: citizens should strictly follow 112 instructions — firefighters could not get the doors open from the air.

President Tasoulas on wildfires: “The sacrifice of the three firefighters is a reminder of their courage and the dangers they face”

President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas addressed the wildfires raging across large parts of Greece, voicing his support for the emergency crews battling the blazes and stressing that the deaths of three firefighters serve as a tragic reminder of the risks they face every day.

The Fire Service and the wider state apparatus mobilised through Civil Protection are operating across many regions of Greece, from Epirus to Boeotia and Crete, President Tasoulas said in a statement. He described the deaths of the three firefighters on duty as a tragic event that underscores the bravery of these professionals as well as the seriousness and danger of the challenges they confront. His thoughts, he added, are with the families of those who died, as well as with everyone working on the fire fronts to support communities and residents under strain.

Proto Thema correspondent Marnos Aleiferis Live from Porto Germeno (Greek)

Evacuation order issued for Livadostra, Boeotia

In Boeotia, a wildfire burning near Livadostra prompted an emergency 112 alert ordering residents to evacuate towards Lefktra, after flames came within just 10 metres of homes, according to local authorities. Charalambos Karabaris, president of the Lefktra community, told Greek broadcaster ERT that the fire front was extensive and called for immediate reinforcement of aerial firefighting resources. He warned of a risk that the blaze could cross the mountain and merge with the fire front at Xironomi.

Fire on two fronts in Porto Germeno

Fire on two fronts in Porto Germeno, in Agia Paraskevi and Psatha.

Better situation southern Rethymno, but battle against flare-ups continues as strong winds ground aerial firefighting units

The situation in southern Rethymno showed a noticeably improved picture on Friday morning, though the alert had not yet been lifted, following the major wildfire that broke out in Kria Vrysi, Crete. Fire crews continue to battle scattered flare-ups, mainly in the wider area of Preveli, while strong winds are still hampering firefighting efforts.

According to information from the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, citing the Fire Service Coordination Centre, all ground crews remain deployed at critical points, but aerial firefighting aircraft have not been able to operate so far due to adverse weather conditions.

Overnight, repeated flare-ups kept fire crews on constant alert, with operations concentrated in Preveli, Kerames, Drymiskos and Asomatos. Despite the clear overall improvement, ground forces continue to intervene wherever new outbreaks emerge, working to prevent any flare-up from escalating due to the strong winds.

Rescue operation in Porto Germeno

Shortly after 5am on Saturday, a rescue operation began to evacuate people from the beach at Porto Germeno, in Vilia, under the coordination of the Operations Centre of the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Residents of Boeotia and West Attica endured a nightmarish night, as the large wildfire passed through overnight towards Porto Germeno, causing successive evacuations and rescue operations for people from the coastal areas. At 05:12 in the early hours of Saturday, the 112 emergency alert system also sounded in Domvraina, calling on residents to move towards Thisvi. The change in direction of the strong winds turned the flames towards the sea, while the main road axis was closed and at least three homes were lost to the fire. At the same time, 325 firefighters are battling on the fronts at Xironomi and Kalamaki. A large fire is also raging at Nerantzies, in Aigialeia, Achaea, where during the night an evacuation order was issued for Neos Erineos and Aravonitsa.

A Coast Guard patrol boat, a Fire Service vessel and a private boat rushed to the area.

This had been preceded, shortly before 3am, by a major flare up. The gale force winds changed direction, pushing the fire towards the coastal zone, while the main road was closed. According to initial reports, at least three homes have burned down.

The wildfire that broke out in Boeotia, with fronts at Xironomi and Kalamaki, moved towards the administrative border with Attica, threatening Prosili, Porto Germeno and neighbouring coastal settlements.

Fresh evacuation in Domvraina, Boetia

At 05:12 in the early hours of Saturday, a new 112 alert was sent to residents of Domvraina, in Boeotia, with the instruction to move towards Thisvi because of the forest fire.

The flames reached as far as the sea at Ag Vasileios

At Agios Vasileios, where the fire reached as far as the coastline and caused damage to homes, a large operation to evacuate residents and visitors by sea had been in place since Friday.

In total, 254 people were safely transported from the beach with the help of a Fire Service vessel and speedboat, Coast Guard vessels and private boats.

The fronts in Boeotia were described by the Fire Service as the most difficult of Friday, due to the terrain and the gale force winds, which caused constant changes in the direction of the fire.

Gale force winds in Evia, Attica, the Aegean and Crete: gusts of wind of up to 130 km/h at Paximada Karystou

According to the latest forecast data, the intensity of the winds will begin to gradually ease from the afternoon

Gale force winds in Evia, Attica, the Aegean and Crete

• Strong northerly winds of up to force nine are affecting the Aegean on the first day of August, creating favourable conditions for wildfires to break out and spread.
• Temperatures in the western mainland will reach 37 degrees Celsius, while in the rest of the country maximum values will range between 33 and 36 degrees.

• In Attica, the weather remains clear with strong winds of force five to eight, and temperatures not expected to exceed 33 degrees Celsius.
• The weather pattern of strong northerly winds and high temperatures will remain unchanged during Sunday, 2 August.

Gale force winds have been blowing since the morning hours across Evia, Attica, the Aegean and Crete. The map below shows the distribution of wind gusts recorded by the 594 stations of the Meteo network of the National Observatory of Athens on Saturday morning (1/8).

At Paximada Karystou, wind gusts reached 130 km/h, at Penteli summit they reached 112 km/h, and in southern Rethymno, the station at Mariou recorded gusts of 96 km/h.

According to the latest forecast data, the intensity of the winds will begin to gradually ease from Saturday afternoon.

Today’s (01/08) weather in detail, according to the National Weather Service (EMY)

Generally clear skies. Temporary local cloud in Evia and Crete in the morning, and over the mountains of Epirus and western Macedonia around midday and in the afternoon.

Winds will blow from the north and northeast, force four to five in the west and locally up to six in the south, force five to six in the east, and force seven to eight in the Aegean, locally reaching force nine in the central Aegean during the morning hours.

Temperatures will not show any significant change. They will reach 35 to 36 degrees Celsius in the western mainland, locally 37 degrees, 28 to 29 degrees in the Cyclades, and 33 to 36 degrees in the rest of the country.

Macedonia, Thrace

Weather: Generally clear, with temporary local cloud around midday and in the afternoon over the mountains of western Macedonia.
Winds: East to northeast, force three to five, locally force six in the east.
Temperature: From 20 to 33, locally 34 degrees, and locally 35 to 36 degrees in central Macedonia. In western Macedonia, the minimum will be two to three degrees lower.

Ionian Islands, Epirus, western mainland Greece, western Peloponnese

Weather: Generally clear, with temporary local cloud around midday and in the afternoon over the mountains of Epirus.
Winds: From northerly directions, force four to five, locally up to six in the south.
Temperature: From 20 to 34, locally 35 degrees, locally 36 to 37 degrees in the mainland.

Thessaly, eastern mainland Greece, Evia, eastern Peloponnese

Weather: Generally clear.
Winds: North to northeast, force four to six, locally force seven, temporarily up to force eight in eastern coastal and sea areas.
Temperature: From 20 to 33, locally 34 degrees, and locally 35 to 36 degrees in the south.

Cyclades, Crete

Weather: Generally clear, with temporary local cloud in Crete in the morning.
Winds: From northerly directions, force six to eight, locally up to force nine in the north during the morning hours. Gradual weakening from the afternoon.
Temperature: From 22 to 28, locally 29 degrees, and locally 31 to 32 degrees in southern Crete.

Eastern Aegean islands, Dodecanese

Weather: Generally clear.
Winds: From northerly directions, force four to five, force five to six in the eastern Aegean islands, locally force seven.
Temperature: From 22 to 33, and up to 36 degrees in the south.

Attica

Weather: Generally clear.
Winds: North to northeast, force five to seven, locally up to force eight in the east during the morning hours.
Temperature: From 24 to 32, locally 33 degrees Celsius. Two to three degrees lower in the north and east.

Thessaloniki

Weather: Generally clear.
Winds: Southeast, force three to four.
Temperature: From 23 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Firefighting forces reinforced in the Nerantzies area of Aigialeia

Firefighting forces operating in the Nerantzies area of Aigialeia were reinforced this morning, in order to bring under control the fire burning agricultural and forest land since Friday afternoon.

Specifically, 83 firefighters are operating on the fire front, with four ground teams from the 6th and 9th Special Wildfire Response Units (EMODE), together with 25 vehicles, while four firefighting aircraft and two helicopters are carrying out water drops from the air.

At the same time, the firefighting forces’ effort is being assisted by water tanker vehicles from the Region of Western Greece and the Municipality of Aigialeia.

Aigio: firefighting forces battled the flames throughout the night in Nerantzies, four aircraft and two helicopters begin water drops

Firefighting forces operating on the fire front at Nerantzies, in Aigialeia, battled the flames throughout the night, in order to keep the fire front away from inhabited areas, while their work was made harder by strong winds blowing in the area.

The 75 firefighters and ground teams were operating continuously near the communities of Aravonitsa and Neos Erineos, where a message was sent to residents via the 112 system for a precautionary, urgent evacuation, so that they would not be put at risk.

At the same time, with the first light of day, four firefighting aircraft and two helicopters were ordered to operate in the area, while ground firefighting forces, together with water tanker vehicles from local authorities, continue their efforts to bring the fire under control.