Due to the influence of the strong seasonal wind 'Meltemi,' large-scale wildfires broke out in many parts of Greece on the 8th, resulting in one death and the evacuation of large numbers of residents.
According to the Greek National Radio and Television, wind speeds reached levels 7 to 8 on the 8th, with gusts up to level 9. The strong winds accelerated the spread of the fire, making firefighting efforts challenging.
Aerial images released by the Athens National Observatory showed that smoke from the wildfires had drifted from Greece to northwest Turkey.
The most severe fires of the day occurred in Keratea, about 35 kilometers southeast of the capital Athens. Strong winds caused the fire line to spread rapidly to 7 kilometers in length, leading to multiple houses being destroyed and roads cut off. The fire department confirmed that the body of an elderly victim had been found.
Local officials told the media that due to the strong winds, the fire scene was "already out of control", and firefighters were facing challenges such as low visibility and oxygen deprivation. The local government has repeatedly issued alerts, calling for residents to evacuate urgently.
On the 8th, a forest fire also broke out in the western region of the Peloponnese Peninsula, with the blaze at one point threatening a monastery near the ancient Olympia site, and villagers in the vicinity were evacuated.
On the same day, a large-scale wildfire occurred on the Ionian Sea's Kefalonia Island in western Greece. More than 100 firefighters, over 30 fire trucks, and 13 aircraft were dispatched to extinguish the fire.
Due to the hot and dry summer conditions, Greece experiences frequent wildfires every July and August. According to Greek media statistics, in the past month alone, there have been 30 to 40 wildfires every day in the country.