A major wildfire broke out in the northern Greek resort of Halkidiki on a Thursday afternoon, in a forested area approximately 90 km south of Thessaloniki.
Evacuation orders were issued for the settlements of Siviri and Fourka. The Greek civil protection authority sent alerts via 112 and telephone.
The Hellenic Coast Guard evacuated people from the beach of Siviri using two Coast Guard vessels, nine private craft, and a high-speed ferry. Sources vary on the number evacuated by boat: some report over 300, while others state more than 250 tourists using 15 small emergency boats, according to ERT.
Evacuated by sea from Siviri according to some reports
The firefighting operation involved conflicting numbers of personnel and vehicles. Reports range from 110 firefighters and 33 engines to 142 firefighters and 51 vehicles, with some saying more than 140 or nearly 150 firefighters were deployed.
Aerial firefighting included nine aircraft and seven helicopters.
The conditions are extreme and leave us very little time to react.
Giannis Koufidis, deputy regional governor of Halkidiki, issued a ban on movement of pedestrians and all types of vehicles in forest areas of the Municipalities of Kassandra, Sithonia and Aristotle. The ban was expected to be in force from 8 am to 8 pm on 14 August, with violations carrying an administrative fine of €300.
The blaze comes as Greece battles wildfires, including a major one northwest of Athens that recently destroyed more than 11,000 hectares of pine forest, bushland and agricultural land.
