Civil Protection authorities in Greece placed four regions on a Red Code emergency status for Sunday, August 16, as strong winds heightened the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires.
The Level 4 extreme fire danger forecast, issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, covers the Attica Region including Kythira, the regional units of Boeotia and Euboea alongside Skyros, the Cyclades islands, and the island of Crete. The secretariat is the national agency responsible for emergency planning and disaster response across the Greek republic.
Red Code status requires the complete mobilization of all emergency personnel and equipment in designated areas to enable an immediate response to any potential outbreak. Under Greek emergency protocols, high alert levels trigger coordinated defense strategies among municipal, regional, and national authorities.
Emergency measures and fire prevention
Greek authorities enhanced ground patrols involving the Fire Service, the Hellenic Police, and the Hellenic Armed Forces, while launching expanded aerial surveillance operations. Municipalities and regional authorities in affected zones were instructed to convene their local Civil Protection coordination bodies without delay.
A preventive ban on vehicle traffic is currently in force across vulnerable zones, restricting visitor access to national parks, forests, and sensitive natural areas. The Greek Fire Service is operating at Level 2 readiness, with emergency personnel across affected regional units placed on partial standby.
Civil Protection officials advised citizens to avoid any activity that could spark a blaze. Banned actions include burning dry vegetation, using machinery that generates sparks, cooking on outdoor barbecues, and discarding lit cigarettes in open spaces.
Severe wind forecasts across the Aegean
Meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas reported that powerful northerly winds will persist throughout Sunday, with the heaviest conditions concentrated across the Aegean Sea and its southern waters. The Aegean is a prominent arm of the Mediterranean Sea situated between the Greek peninsula and Anatolia, famous for its seasonal summer wind patterns.
Kolydas stated that average wind intensity across the region is expected to hover around 7 Beaufort, which represents a near gale force on the international scale. However, instantaneous gusts are forecast to reach significantly higher speeds due to local geographic features.
According to predictions from the ICON-EU weather model, maximum wind gusts could reach up to 129 km/h in western Crete and 105 km/h in southern Crete. Winds in the Kafirefs Strait, a narrow passage between Euboea and Andros known for turbulent sea channels, are expected to reach 113 km/h, while gusts near the Cycladic island of Tinos could hit 104 km/h.
Kolydas clarified that current atmospheric conditions reflect a strong Meltemi, the traditional dry summer wind that blows across Greece during July and August. He noted that average wind speeds do not justify widespread references to 8 or 9 Beaufort, emphasizing that high numbers represent peak instantaneous gusts rather than sustained wind speeds.
He added that these figures should not be converted directly to Beaufort values, explaining that the significant variance between average speeds and peak gusts highlights the critical impact of local topography in mountain passes, coastal straits, and leeward areas.
Ferry services and safety guidance
Greek maritime authorities confirmed that travel restrictions have been rescinded and usual passenger ferry services have resumed following earlier disruptions. Nevertheless, officials urged travelers and residents to exercise heightened caution, particularly in coastal zones where peak gusts are anticipated.
Meteorological data indicates a gradual rise in temperatures across Greece over the coming days, though forecasters confirmed that current readings do not point toward an impending heatwave. Summer weather in the region frequently combines rising temperatures with dry soil, compounding the danger of fire spread.
Authorities reminded the public that anyone sighting a fire should immediately contact the Greek Fire Service by dialing 199, the national emergency dispatch line.
