Wildfires spread across Greece, conditions worsen in France and Spain

Greece is grappling with a growing wildfire crisis, with over 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land burned in a week, according to experts. The National Observatory's climate tracker, meteo.gr, reported that the Gulf of Corinth area saw the most devastation, with more than 6,500 hectares affected. The popular coastal resort of Porto Germeno, near Athens, was evacuated when a fire ignited on Friday, though scores of homes were left damaged or destroyed.

Fires on the islands of Crete and Paros have also contributed to the damage toll, burning another 6,000 hectares. Continuous violent winds have made firefighting operations challenging, with Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas stating that the department is "pushed to its limits." Three firefighters have died this week, two in Crete and one in the Peloponnese.

Despite a brief respite in winds on Saturday, Greece continues to face a near maximum fire risk in the greater Athens area, the Voiotia region, and the island of Evia. Nearly 500 firefighters are currently battling blazes in the Porto Germeno area, while about 100 are working on a separate fire in Aigialia, northern Peloponnese.

A new fire emerged on the Ionian Sea island of Cephalonia on Saturday. Greece, like other Mediterranean nations, regularly suffers from wildfires during the summer due to high temperatures, persistent heat waves, and drought. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned this week that Greece, which had been less affected by heat waves and major fires earlier in the summer compared to France and Spain, is facing "difficult days" ahead.