In brief
A wild blaze erupted near Liti, northwest of Thessaloniki, killing two people and leaving a 12‑year‑old child missing. Over 100 firefighters, dozens of engines and seven aircraft are contained in the fight, but high winds and dry conditions fuel a 5‑kilometre-long wall of flames. The cause remains undetermined as the fire threatens nearby villages and tourist hotspots.
A wildfire that began earlier today near the village of Liti, about 15 km northwest of Thessaloniki, has spread across an 800‑meter stretch of forest and consumed homes, leaving two dead and forcing an evacuation. One body was found in a charred area, while a second, yet to be identified, lay in a burnt house. A woman with burn injuries was rescued and is currently hospitalised in stable condition and a 12‑year‑old child remains missing, believed to be the son of the deceased.
More than 100 firefighters, dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft are fighting the blaze. They report a 5‑kilometre wall of flame still spreading, hampered by high wind and dry conditions. The fire, which ignited around 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT), quickly crossed into dense forest, and its cause is still under investigation.
The region was under a heightened wildfire risk warning at the time, which has contributed to repeated flare‑ups. Local residents were urged to leave their homes, and Greek broadcaster ERT relayed that properties had been damaged, with the fire moving toward the nearby village of Melissochori.
In Greece’s latest calamity, the wildfire threatens to strike just before the peak tourist season. With each summer brought by droughts and heatwaves, such forest fires have become an all‑season threat for the country.
