Greek islands affected by wildfires

Greek islands affected by wildfires

Greek islands affected by wildfires are mainly dry, pine-covered and windy islands where summer heat and Meltemi winds spread flames quickly. Rhodes with major 2023 fires in Gennadi, Kiotari and Laerma, Corfu with fires in the north and centre, Evia with severe 2021 fires across the north, Lesvos with fires near Vrissa and Mytilene, Kos with fires near Kardamena and Kefalos, Samos with fires on Mount Ampelos, Thassos with fires near Thassos Town and Potos, Zakynthos with fires near Laganas and the interior, Kefalonia with fires near Lixouri and Argostoli, Crete with fires near Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion areas, and Chios with recurring mastic grove fires.

Known for fire risk from June to September when temperatures exceed 35C and dry pine and olive groves ignite, with Rhodes, Corfu, Evia, Crete and Thassos having the largest forested areas at risk. Most wildfires start from agricultural burns or dry lightning and spread fast on Meltemi days, prompting evacuations in tourist areas like on Rhodes in July 2023. Small Cycladic islands like Mykonos, Paros and Santorini rarely burn badly due to lack of forest, while Ionian and North Aegean islands burn more often.

IslandDescription
RhodesMain island affected by weeklong fire July 2023 that roared down from mountains into several coastal areas, largest wildfire evacuation in Greece history 19,000 people evacuated.
CorfuFires raged in northeast end July 2023 leading to 2,000 people ordered to evacuate, plus Northeast Corfu listed in Copernicus Sentinel-2 burn severity study 2023.
EviaSecond largest island, Platanistos Evia wildfires 2023 and precautionary evacuations, plus major 2021 Evia wildfires destroying north Evia forests, air tanker crash at Karystos.
CreteLargest Greek island put on high alert extreme risk of fire July 2023, air quality affected in coastal areas, ongoing wildfire risk in code red warnings.
KythiraIncluded in code red wildfire alert covering Attica and Kythira, Crete, Cyclades, Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria.
LesbosThird largest island, included in code red wildfire alert, Eastern Aegean wildfire risk.
ChiosMastic island included in code red wildfire alert, Eastern Aegean wildfire risk and historic mastic grove fires.
SamosLush mountainous island included in code red wildfire alert, plus Eastern Aegean wildfire zone.
IkariaBlue Zone island included in code red wildfire alert, Eastern Aegean wildfire zone.
SkyrosMost southern Sporades Skyrian horses Mouria stone forest, included in code red covering Boeotia and Evia including Skyros.
ThassosEmerald island pine-covered mountains, historic wildfires in Thassos pine forests near Theologos.
KefaloniaCinematic island Myrtos Melissani Assos Fiskardo, wildfires in Mount Ainos fir forest.
ZakynthosShipwreck Navagio Blue Caves, wildfires in Keri and Vassilikos pine areas.
KosHippocrates cycling island Asklepieion, Dodecanese wildfire risk in 2023 heatwave.
SymiDazzling harbor pastel mansions, Dodecanese wildfire alert zone.
TilosEcotourism dwarf elephant fossils nature reserve, Dodecanese wildfire risk zone.

Greek islands affected by wildfires are Rhodes, Corfu, Evia, Crete and Lesvos — July August pine olive

Greek islands affected by wildfires are big pine olive islands with summer Meltemi wind — not Cyclades arid less forest. Rhodes most affected recent — July 2023 mega fire 19 days burned 15% island center south — Laerma Apollona Gennadi Kiotari Lardos Lindos edge, 20,000 tourists evacuated biggest evacuation Greece. Corfu second — July 2023 fires north Corfu Old Perithia Loutses plus south Lefkimmi, pine olive burning, tourists evacuated.

Evia Euboea third — second largest island — 2021 August mega fire burned 50% north Evia forest — Istiaia Rovies Limni Pefki 50,000 hectares pine worst Europe 21st century, plus 2024 south Karystos. Crete fourth — every summer — Chania Akrotiri, Rethymno, Heraklion south coast, Lassithi Ierapetra pine olive, 2023 2024 big fires but smaller than Rhodes. Lesvos fifth — 2022 Vrissa Vatera fire burned west pine olive, plus 2023.

Wildfires Greek islands July August hot 40C Meltemi wind 6-8 beaufort pine resin explosive, human cause 90% negligence arson.

Wildfire ranking — why Rhodes Evia Corfu burn most

Guide nuance: Greek islands affected by wildfires share pine forest + summer drought + wind — Rhodes burns because interior dense pine plus farm abandonment, south dry grass, 2023 fire started Laerma high temps 45C wind spread 19 days — Kiotari Gennadi hotels damaged. Corfu burns because north pine dense plus olive groves abandoned brush, July 2023 two fires same day wind spread, Old Perithia medieval village burned edge.

Evia burns worst because north Evia pine forest Aleppo pine resin highly flammable continuous forest 80% — 2021 fire started by heatwave 47C burned 50 days smoke Athens, villages Rovies destroyed, forest still recovering. Crete burns because big size varied — Akrotiri Chania pine plus olive mills, south coast pine, but Crete better firebreaks roads. Lesvos burns west pine forest Vatera Vrissa 2022 17,000 hectares.

Extra Greek islands affected by wildfires: Samos 2021 2023 pine, Thassos 2016 2024 Emerald fires, Zakynthos Keri pine yearly, Kefalonia Lixouri, Kos Kardamena, Chios mastic trees 2012 2023. Safest from wildfires Cyclades Mykonos Naxos Paros Milos Santorini — no pine, arid white rock, less fuel, windy but nothing to burn. So order: Rhodes 2023 mega 15% burned, Evia 2021 mega 50% north, Corfu 2023 north south, Crete yearly Chania Ierapetra, Lesvos 2022 Vatera, Samos Thassos Zakynthos bonus. Pick June early or September late no fires, avoid July August pine interior — stay coastal north wind side.

Sources

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Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by admin