Greece travel safety update as 40 different wildfires blaze near tourist hotspot

A single fatality has been reported and thousands have been forced to evacuate as wildfires ravage Greece.

Fires have caused significant damage to the popular tourist hotspot of Athens and destroying hundreds of buildings and homes. Despite the fact that the wildfires, which have scorched over 100,000 acres, are now under control, firefighters remain on high alert due to the risk of further outbreaks.

The weather in Greece is currently extremely hot, with temperatures exceeding 30C and gusty winds providing ideal conditions for another fire to ignite. Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, the chief spokesperson for Greece's fire brigade, informed the BBC that firefighters will continue to soak the ground and maintain a strong presence in the area.

The interior ministry has allocated €4.7m (£4m) in emergency funds to areas affected by the wildfires, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cut short his holiday to manage the crisis.

European nations including Italy, France, Serbia, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Romania have provided assistance to Greece, including aircraft, personnel, and aid. Over 700 firefighters, 199 fire engines, and 35 water-bombing aircraft worked relentlessly to control the flames as they approached the densely populated city of Athens, reports the Mirror.

While the UK Government has not yet advised against trips to Greece, travellers should verify their plans with their travel providers to ensure bookings and flights remain unaffected. In the event of a cancellation without an official advisory, refunds are improbable.

A representative from Abta the Travel Association, informed i news: "In the summer, wildfires are a fact of life in Greece, and the authorities are well prepared to deal with them swiftly and effectively."

They added: "The result of this is that, generally, fires are brought under control swiftly and, all in all, it is highly unlikely that holidaymakers will be directly impacted by a wildfire."

With climate change leading to hotter, more erratic weather patterns, the frequency and intensity of wildfires are expected to rise.