As extreme heat and drought grip southern Europe, deadly blazes force thousands to flee in Greece and Turkey amid rising concerns over climate-fueled disasters
July-5, 2025: Firefighters in Greece and Turkey are battling raging wildfires fueled by extreme heat, drought, and strong winds, with emergency crews stretched thin and thousands of residents forced to evacuate.
Also Read: Europe Heatwave Kills Two in Italy as Wildfires Rage and Records Tumble Across Continent
Amid a deadly heat wave across Europe, wildfires are burning in countries including Spain, Greece and Turkey. Hundreds of firefighters in Greece have been dispatched to battle a massive blaze exacerbated by high temperatures and gale-force winds. https://t.co/5OZjNIxrYJ pic.twitter.com/oTdsc0KPcl
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 3, 2025
In Greece, a major fire broke out Friday in scrubland near Agios Dimitrios, in the Koropi region of eastern Attica, south of Athens. The blaze prompted evacuation alerts and a full-scale firefighting response, including 75 firefighters, five elite ground teams, multiple helicopters and aircraft, and municipal water trucks.
Greece’s emergency alert system quickly issued text warnings, advising residents in the affected areas to evacuate for their safety.
🔥 Turkey Also Grapples with Blazes
Meanwhile, across the Aegean, Turkey is battling wildfires in the western region of Izmir, a popular tourist destination. While most of the fires have been brought under control, the toll has been devastating:
Turkey in flames
— RT (@RT_com) July 4, 2025
Wildfires rage through Izmir
Walls of fire on highways, skies glowing red, trees exploding into ash
Homes ablaze, 42,000+ evacuated
Firefighting underway by air & land pic.twitter.com/gN9ccXK8z2
- 2 people dead, including a forest worker and an 81-year-old man who died from smoke inhalation
- Around 200 homes damaged or destroyed
- Tens of thousands evacuated
Authorities remain on high alert as heatwaves and dry, windy conditions continue to fuel dangerous flare-ups.
🌡️ Climate Change Intensifying Fire Seasons
Experts warn that such fires are becoming more frequent and severe. According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe has been warming at twice the global average since the 1980s — making it the fastest-warming continent on Earth.
With climate change accelerating heat extremes and drought cycles, southern Europe is now grappling with longer fire seasons and deadlier consequences.
🚨 Emergency Response Underway
In both Greece and Turkey, the response has involved:
- Dozens of firefighting crews
- Aircraft and helicopters conducting aerial water drops
- Evacuations coordinated via emergency alert systems
- Support from local volunteers and municipal agencies
As officials continue to battle the blazes, the region remains under red alert for fire risk in the days ahead.
🏷️ Tags:
Greece wildfires 2025, Turkey wildfires July 2025, Agios Dimitrios fire, Izmir evacuations, European heatwave, climate change impact, wildfire evacuations, EU Copernicus climate report, Mediterranean fires, emergency alerts Greece