A raging wildfire in northern Greece’s Halkidiki peninsula forced hundreds of tourists and residents to evacuate, with many taken to safety by sea. The fire, fanned by strong winds and exacerbated by a prolonged heatwave, quickly spread through dry pine forests and approached popular resort areas like Siviri and Furka. As the flames encroached on beaches, emergency services had to resort to maritime evacuation: people — some in swimwear, many carrying children or pets, and several wearing face masks — boarded small boats, vessels from the Coast Guard, and fire brigade ships. Approximately 200 individuals were transported to a ship waiting offshore, while others were moved to nearby safer beaches. To combat the blaze, authorities deployed over 140 firefighters, nine aircraft, and seven helicopters. Unfortunately, one firefighter sustained an injury. Weather forecasts warned of winds up to 100 km/h on Friday, raising concerns that the fire could spread rapidly.
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