Greek Forest Fires Run, Dozens Of Firefighters Injured

ILUSTRATION UNSPLASH/LETCH

JAKARTA - A total of 13 firefighters have been injured in the past 24 hours while trying to extinguish forest fires in Greece. The condition of the forest fires is still "very worrying".

"Several ambulances from the National Emergency Center carried three firefighters to Achaia with symptoms of a heat attack, while those with upper body injuries were taken to Aitoloakarnania and to Jemadana for burns," said a spokesman for the local Fire Department, Vassilios Vathrakoginnis, on Wednesday, August 13.

"Meanwhile in Chios, first aid has been provided for 10 firefighters and two volunteers who work in the ban. Today is expected to be very difficult," he continued.

He also explained that extinguishing the fire would be very difficult because of the strong winds, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.

For safety, authorities have ordered residents in dozens of villages, cities, and major cities across the country to evacuate.

The burned land area in Greece has reached nearly 10,000 hectares, according to Greek meteorological company Meteo Gr, citing satellite data.

In Greece, the period from May 1 to October 31 is common to be considered a fire-prone period.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System, 49 large forest fires with an area of nearly 40,000 hectares have occurred in Greece since early 2025. Meanwhile, in 2024, there were 86 fires with an area of nearly 42,000 hectares in the country, and in 2023 there were 56 fires with an area of about 175.000 hectares.