Major wildfire on Greek island Paros prompts evacuation of around 10 villages as firefighting efforts continue amid strong winds

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A major wildfire on the Greek island of Paros has led to the evacuation of around 10 villages as firefighting efforts continue amid strong winds. The fire, which broke out in the Kampi area near the island's landfill, has been raging for two days, prompting local authorities to issue four emergency alerts.¹²⁵⁶

According to the Paros Fire Department, 66 firefighters and four forest commando teams from the 1st Special Forest Operations Unit are actively battling the flames, supported by seven aircraft and 16 fire engines. Giannis Artopios, deputy spokesman for the fire service, described the situation as difficult, noting that strong winds of 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale are complicating efforts and causing spot fires.⁴

Paros mayor, Konstantinos Bizas, has warned that winds are expected to strengthen further, with gusts potentially reaching 8 Beaufort. This has raised concerns among residents, some of whom initially refused to evacuate due to fears of leaving their animals behind, according to deputy mayor Christos Giourtzidis. The fire service emphasizes that there is no room for complacency as they continue to fight the blaze.⁷

Key Insight

“Firefighters, including 66 personnel and four forest commando teams, are battling the blaze, which has been complicated by winds reaching 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale. Paros mayor Konstantinos Bizas warned that winds are expected to strengthen further, raising concerns about the fire's spread.”