Thursday, July 10, 2025

A major fire broke out late Wednesday evening in the forested Glykadi area at the northernmost point of Thasos Island in the northern Aegean Sea. The fire is ongoing as of Thursday morning, with authorities characterizing the conditions as difficult because the area is mountainous and inaccessible. The fire is burning on two fronts at the moment: one in the Glykadi area and the other heading southeast toward the popular summer resort of Pachis and the village of Rachoni. The situation on the second front seems to be improving, but the first one is the major point of concern.

As the flames continue to advance, local authorities have already ordered the evacuation of multiple villages in the affected regions. The evacuation is being focused on getting residents and tourists to safety, with emergency services handling the evacuations and supporting where available. Although there have been no casualties reported, the fire has resulted in damage to property and agricultural land, and the air quality has been compromised in areas close to the fire.

Firefighting efforts are being led by the Hellenic Fire Service, with reinforcements from the nearby city of Kavala. Aerial support has been deployed, including helicopters and firefighting planes, to combat the blaze from the air. On the ground, dozens of volunteers have joined the effort, supported by municipal water trucks and heavy machinery to create firebreaks and remove flammable materials. Despite these efforts, the challenging terrain and strong winds have hindered containment efforts.

The weather conditions on Thasos Island are contributing to the difficulty of firefighting operations. With temperatures expected to remain high and winds potentially increasing, the risk of the fire spreading further is a concern. Firefighters are working tirelessly to control the blaze, but the evolving weather conditions make the situation unpredictable.

The residents of Thasos Island have been very resilient in the midst of this tragedy. Businesses, associations, and individuals are coming forward to support the firefighting efforts and to assist the fire victims. The provision of food, water, and supplies is being coordinated to ensure the emergency personnel and the evacuees get the aid they need.

The authorities are concerned about the situation and provide frequent updates to the public. The public and tourists ought to stay informed from legitimate sources and adhere to guidelines from local authorities whenever they come out. The issue is the security of everyone on the island, and precautions continue to be in place to contain the fire and prevent it from inflicting further damage.

As the situation unfolded, the community of Thasos Island rallies around during difficult times, with firefighting units, volunteers, and residents uniting to overcome this challenge.