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Heat-Driven Wildfires in Greece and Southern France Kill Two, Force Mass Evacuations

Record heat, drought, strong winds have fuelled fast-moving blazes that forced evacuations and stretched firefighting resources

Overview

  • A fast-moving wildfire that began on Tuesday near Liti, north‑east of Thessaloniki, destroyed a house and killed a father and his 12‑year‑old son.
  • Firefighters on Wednesday identified the boy's body inside the burnt home and confirmed the father's body was found outside the property while the boy's mother and a separate 40‑year‑old woman receive hospital treatment for burns.
  • Greek authorities issued emergency 112 evacuation alerts, deployed more than 115 firefighters plus commando teams, dozens of vehicles and multiple aircraft to contain the blaze and prevent flare-ups.
  • Separately, large wildfires in southern France have scorched hundreds to more than 900 hectares, prompted up to 3,000 evacuations and mobilised hundreds to more than a thousand firefighters with water‑bomber planes.
  • Investigators including Greece’s Arson Crimes Directorate are examining causes and officials are using newly launched satellite monitoring as drought, heat and strong winds raise the risk of further outbreaks.