Brits holidaying in Greece have been warned to be on high alert for blazes predicted to break out across the country.
Greek authorities have issued an urgent warning to those in the areas at high risk including holiday hotspot favourites such as Crete and Corfu. It comes after the holiday island of Zante was gripped by wildfires earlier this month.
The Greek Civil Protection website warned that “large parts” of the country currently suffering blistering heat – with a blazing 43C predicted for Saturday.
The weather maps for daily temperatures in the country have been volcanic red for weeks, as Greece has been dealing with a deadly heatwave since June.
A statement released by the Government authority said “a very high risk of fire” is predicted for the following areas.
• Region of Attica (including the island of Kythira)
• Region of Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia)
• Peloponnese Region (Corinthia Region, Argolis Region, Laconia Region)
• Region of Crete
• North Aegean Region (Lesvos Region, Chios Region, Samos Region, Ikaria Region)
It added: “The General Secretariat of Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection has informed the competent state agencies involved in the official service, as well as the Regions and Municipalities of the above regions, so that they are on increased civil protection readiness in order to face any fire incidents immediately.
“At the same time, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection recommends that citizens be especially careful and avoid actions in the open air that can cause a fire by negligence, such as burning dry grass and branches or cleaning residues, the use of machines that cause sparks such as circular saws, welding devices, the use of outdoor grills, the smoking of bees, the throwing of lit cigarettes, etc.
“Also, it is reminded that during the fire protection season burning of fields is prohibited.”
It said that in the event of fire to notify the fire service by calling 199 and to visit civilprotection.gov.gr for more information on how to keep safe.
According to satellite sources and Google – which tracks the fire boundaries with real-time satellite imagery – the island of Zante, also known as Zakynthos, had an estimated 1,160 acres burned by this latest “severe” fire earlier in July.
Posting on Tiktok, Zante Geezer said that the fire was in the mountainous areas of the island, “not near the party strip”.
“These do happen on a yearly basis… but this is a really big one,” he said.
Andrew, from Leeds, who is staying on Zante, said that the “sea has turned into a constant runway for the sea planes”, who are tackling the blaze.
He added: “I must say the authorities have done an excellent job in controlling the fire”.