Firefighters confront a fire close to Athens for the second consecutive day.
Wildfire in Keratea, Greece: Tragedy Strikes as Three Lives are Lost
A wildfire that began near Athens, Greece, on August 8, 2025, has taken a tragic turn, claiming the lives of three individuals. The fire has ravaged over 1,580 hectares of land in the rural area of Keratea, southeast of Athens, causing significant damage to homes, farmlands, and olive orchards.
The first fatalities occurred at Sarakiniko beach on the island of Milos, where a 61-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man were visiting a cruise ship. The victims, who were later identified as Vietnamese tourists, fell into the sea during gale-force winds that reached up to 80 kilometers per hour. A man who attempted to help the woman was also swept away but managed to survive.
In Keratea, an elderly man was found dead in a hut, while dozens of people were evacuated from their homes and an elderly care center due to the fire's intense heat and the continued threat of the wind. The evacuation was carried out by police, who ensured compliance through door-to-door checks.
As of August 11-13, over 260 firefighters are deployed in Keratea, working tirelessly to contain the blaze. Despite the fire's intensity decreasing, active hotspots remain, posing a continued threat to the surrounding areas. The challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and an ongoing drought, have made firefighting difficult and raised concerns for further spread.
The Greek national weather service EMY has forecasted winds of up to 74kph for today, adding to the complexity of the firefighting efforts. The situation underscores the difficult circumstances facing Greece amid an extended drought and high wind events, with calls for enhanced regional firefighting cooperation underway.
In a positive development, the sailing ban on Athens ports, which had disrupted ferry travel for tens of thousands of summer holidaymakers due to the weather yesterday, has been lifted today.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by wildfires and the need for effective firefighting strategies in the face of increasingly challenging weather conditions. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.
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In the face of ongoing drought and high wind events, Malaysian weather forecasters are closely monitoring the situation in Greece, as strong winds of up to 74kph, as forecasted by the Greek national weather service EMY, could potentially impact firefighting efforts in Keratea. Consequently, Malaysia is considering enhancing regional firefighting cooperation to better address such challenging weather conditions that pose a threat to numerous regions worldwide.
