BRITS have been warned of a “Code Red” wildfire alert in Greece, as raging flames tear through a holiday hotspot and fires erupt near Turkey’s tourist resorts.
A “very high” fire risk has been forecast for Wednesday, September 9, across Attica and Evia.
Firefighters battle a wildfire burning near Karystos on the island of Evia, Greece Credit: Getty
A firefighting airplane drops water, as a wildfire burns near Karystos, Greece Credit: Getty
The two regions have been placed on “Code Red”, with Greece’s National Mechanism put into full mobilisation.
Officials have warned of the threat of devastating blazes as fire crews remain on alert.
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It comes as comes as a ferocious wildfire tore through Evia on Monday, forcing authorities to evacuate a village as flames ripped through forested land.
The inferno erupted at around 2.30pm local time near Makrykapa before emergency alerts were sent out to people in the wider area.
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A second warning ordered people in and around Triada to flee the danger zone and head towards Psachna.
At least 86 firefighters battled the raging blaze alongside three specialist forest firefighting teams and 32 vehicles.
Ten firefighting aircraft and three helicopters were also thrown into the desperate operation, with one helicopter coordinating the aerial attack.
Fire crews have been placed on partial alert, while aerial surveillance patrols and fire, police and military patrols are being stepped up.
Authorities are also preparing to restrict vehicle traffic and visitors in national parks, forests and other vulnerable areas if needed.
Officials have urged people to avoid anything that could spark a fire.
It comes as a wildfire rips through a tourist hotspot in Turkey Credit: Getty
The blaze is tearing through Antalya’s Aksu district after breaking out at around 6pm local time Credit: Reuters
The wildfires in Greece (pictured) has put the hols hotspot on a “cod red” alert Credit: Getty
This includes burning dry grass or branches, using machinery that creates sparks, outdoor barbeques, smoking bees and throwing away lit cigarettes.
Field burning remains banned during the fire season, while anyone spotting a blaze has been told to immediately call the Fire Department on 199.
The Municipality of Dirfys-Messapia sent water tankers and heavy machinery to help crews contain the flames, while Greece’s National Defence General Staff was also mobilised.
A specialist investigative unit from the Hellenic Fire Service was sent to probe the cause of the blaze, which had not been established by Monday evening.
Evia has previously been devastated by catastrophic wildfires, with huge swathes of the island scorched during the deadly 2021 infernos.
A separate wildfire also erupted in the Kandili area of Megara, Attica, on Tuesday afternoon, sending emergency crews racing to contain the flames.
The fire broke out at around 4.30pm in a forested area but was not threatening homes, according to the Fire Department.
A massive response involving 115 firefighters, five groups of hikers from the 1st EMODE and 38 fire engines was launched, with local authority water tankers also joining the battle.
Three aircraft and five helicopters were deployed to hammer the blaze from above, with one helicopter coordinating the aerial operation.
No settlements were said to be at risk, although scattered buildings were in the area and the flames were burning close to the site of last August’s fires.
The Western Attica Arson Investigation Unit was mobilised to investigate what sparked the latest blaze.
Roads were also shut as the wildfire raged, with traffic suspended on the Mandras-Kandiliou road towards the Kandiliou Shooting Range.
Traffic was also halted on Katadrodon Avenue towards Mandra as emergency teams fought to bring the flames under control.
It comes as a wildfire rips through a tourist hotspot in Turkey, with flames surging towards homes.
The blaze is tearing through Antalya’s Aksu district after breaking out at around 6pm local time, with powerful winds driving the flames into residential areas.
One house has been completely destroyed, while thick smoke has spread from the Karaöz neighbourhood, according to Turkish outlet Cumhuriyet.
Around 45 fire engines and 275 firefighters are battling the forest inferno in Turkey Credit: Getty
Police in Turkey Police have ordered residents to flee their homes as a precaution Credit: Getty
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Around 45 fire engines and 275 firefighters are battling the forest inferno, backed by nine helicopters and three planes.
A statement from the Regional Forestry Directorate said: “Our teams are intervening from the air and the ground in the spot fires caused by flammable materials spreading due to the energy of the main fire.”
Desperate locals have also been building barricades in a bid to stop the advancing flames from reaching their homes.
Resident Muhammet Özdemir told Cumhuriyet: “They told me there was a fire near my house. Both the right and left sides are burning. It came right up to my house. There’s nothing left, not even a tree.”
Ahmet Karakış, an elected official for the Aksu district, confirmed residents had been evacuated after one home was destroyed.
He said: “We evacuated many houses in the neighbourhood immediately after the fire started. So far, one house has burned down completely. Thank God there are no casualties. We are working with all our might to extinguish the fire.”
The flames have been whipped in different directions by the wind, reaching the borders of the Döşemealtı, Kızıllı and Ilıca districts.
Further evacuations have taken place, including at an animal shelter, as the inferno continues to threaten surrounding areas.
Police have ordered residents to flee their homes as a precaution, while water cannons have been deployed to fight the advancing flames.
People have also been prevented from entering the danger zone as crews battle to bring the wildfire under control.
The Greek alert comes as the country remains hugely popular with British holidaymakers, with almost 4.9 million travellers from the UK visiting Greece in 2025, according to the Bank of Greece.
Temperatures in Crete are forecast to reach 27C today, with wind gusts of up to 27mph, while Attica could hit 31C before climbing to 33C towards the end of the week.
Across the other areas covered by the warning, temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s and low 30s, with gusty winds adding to the wildfire threat.
Greece has battled a brutal summer of wildfires, with deadly blazes claiming numerous lives, including three firefighters who died tackling fires in Crete and the Peloponnese in July.
Both regions are once again facing wildfire danger under the latest warning.
Authorities are urging residents and tourists to remain vigilant and follow emergency instructions as the wildfire threat continues to hang over parts of Greece.
