Greece: Wildfire causes evacuations on Kythira August 5

Event

Authorities declared a state of emergency on the island of Kythira on Saturday, August 5, as a forest fire continues to spread. Officials order residents in the villages of Arioi and Mylopotamos to evacuate on Saturday. Strong winds have helped spread the blaze and additional firefighters have been deployed into the area. Further evacuations are possible in the coming days as emergency services attempt to contain the fire.

Context

The forest fire started on Friday, August 4, in the Pitsinades Mylopotamos area. Every summer Greece experiences heatwaves with temperatures reaching up to 40°C (104°F) that can cause fires.

Advice

Individuals are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas affected by the wildfires, to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and to keep abreast of the situation.