For over a week, Turkey and Greece have been battling major forest fires.
In Greece, 55 wildfires have been reported, with 50 brought under control and five still burning. Authorities continue to warn of the risk of new outbreaks. Firefighters, supported by vehicles and volunteers, are battling active fires in the Peloponnese region west of Athens, as well as on the islands of Evia and Kythera.
The damage is extensive, with thousands of hectares of forestland destroyed, livestock lost, and water supplies disrupted in several areas. Numerous evacuations have taken place, particularly in the villages of Drosopigi and Kryoneri, located about 30 km from Athens. No fatalities have been reported in Greece so far.
In Turkey, the situation has been more deadly. Between 26 and 27 July 2025, more than 3 500 people were evacuated in the city of Bursa. Four people, including a firefighter, lost their lives in the area. A separate blaze in the Eskisehir forest, around 150 km east of Bursa, claimed the lives of ten workers and emergency responders.
Temperatures have soared to unprecedented levels, reaching 50.5°C in Turkey, further intensifying the wildfire risk across the region.
