Greece was fighting 73 simultaneous wildfires on Thursday as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ordered all ministers and agencies to treat the protection of human life as the absolute priority, putting the state machinery on full mobilization.
Firefighters were battling blazes stretching from Chaidari and Boeotia to Argolida, Rethymno and Kompoti in the Arta region. The danger was described as extreme for the coming hours, with Attica and Euboea placed on Category 5 alert due to strong winds, while many other regions across the country were at Category 4.
The government deployed 18,800 firefighters alongside drones and Diamond surveillance aircraft through the AEGIS program. Emergency alerts were issued through the 112 emergency number, and preventive evacuations were ordered near populated settlements to minimize casualties before damage to property and the natural environment.
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas put services across seven regions on maximum operational readiness and recalled staff from leave.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Mitsotakis said vigilance was required from all citizens. Of 221 arrests made this year related to fires, 195, nearly 88 percent, involved criminal negligence, he noted.
The government described August as the hardest month of the fire season. Municipalities receive an annual allocation of 50 million euros for fire protection works.
Mitsotakis directed that there be zero delays and no coordination gaps that could endanger citizens, particularly those living near settlements.
