Greece Wildfire Tragedy
Deadly Wildfire Near Thessaloniki Kills Two, Including Child, Forces 4,000 Evacuations
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Key Points
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The second body found inside the family's house is believed to be the couple's 12-year-old son who had been reported missing during evacuation efforts; a 66-year-old man was previously found dead outside his home near Liti.
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A 40-year-old woman with burn injuries was rescued and transported to Ippokrateio Hospital in Thessaloniki; authorities described her injuries as serious but not life-threatening.
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The blaze produced a wall of flames about 5 km long, with more than 100 firefighters, dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft deployed to contain it.
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The fire began near Derveni in the Oreokastro municipality and spread toward Liti, about 15 kilometres northwest of Thessaloniki, as Greece faced 48 fires across the country within 24 hours and a high Category 3 wildfire risk due to dry conditions.
A wildfire near the village of Liti, about 15 kilometres northwest of Thessaloniki, killed two people and forced roughly 4,000 residents to flee on June 30, 2026. The victims — a 66-year-old man and his 12-year-old son — were found dead after the blaze destroyed their home in a forested settlement, according to GreekReporter and Reuters.
A 40-year-old woman, believed to be the wife and mother, was pulled from the property with serious burns to her face, hands, and thighs. She was taken to Ippokrateio Hospital in Thessaloniki, where her condition was described as serious but stable. Greece was battling 48 separate fires across the country within the same 24-hour window, according to IB Times.
A Family Trapped as the Fire Front Closed In
The fire started around 14:30 on June 30 near Derveni in the Oreokastro municipality, according to ProtoThema. Strong winds drove the flames toward Liti at high speed. By 16:40, Greek authorities sent a 112 emergency alert ordering a mandatory evacuation. Around 4,000 residents gathered at the village's municipal soccer field.
Firefighters found the 66-year-old man dead in a wooded area bordering the settlement during the afternoon. The search for a missing child continued into the night. At around 02:00 on July 1, crews found a second body — believed to be the 12-year-old son — inside the ruins of the family home, Reuters and Anadolu Agency reported. Fire Corps Spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said dense forest "severely hampered access" to the home at the height of the blaze.
115 Firefighters and 13 Aircraft Battle a 5 km Wall of Flames
At its peak, the fire front stretched approximately 5 kilometres long. Greece deployed 115 firefighters, 36 fire engines, and 3 specialised forest commando units to contain it, according to GreekReporter. Ten fixed-wing aircraft and 3 helicopters flew sorties in rotation to slow the advance of the blaze.
By 08:00 on July 1, authorities declared the main fire front contained. Crews remained on-site through the day to watch for flare-ups. The fire destroyed at least one home entirely and burned agricultural assets including beehives and crops in the Derveni-Liti corridor, Anadolu Agency reported. Smoke drifted southeast toward Thessaloniki, prompting air quality warnings for vulnerable residents, according to IQAir.
Greece Under Category 3 Fire Risk Amid Nationwide Blaze Surge
Much of northern Greece was placed under a Category 3 "High Risk" fire warning before the Liti blaze broke out. A prolonged dry spell had left vegetation highly combustible. Greece recorded 48 fires across the country in a single 24-hour period, according to IB Times and Devdiscourse. Analysts described the volume of simultaneous fires as a strain on national firefighting resources.
Climate researchers cited by The Straits Times described Greece and the wider Mediterranean as "wildfire hotspots" where fast-moving ground fires quickly become uncontrollable crown fires in pine forests. The pattern mirrors more destructive fire seasons seen across recent years. Investigators remain at the Liti site to determine the cause of the blaze. Greek law now carries higher penalties for both negligent and intentional arson, following reforms passed after previous disasters, according to GreekReporter.
Why Some Residents May Have Stayed Behind Despite Evacuation Order
Officials credited the 112 alert system with moving 4,000 people to safety quickly. But the deaths raised questions about why the family did not or could not leave. Analysts cited by Anadolu Agency pointed to a recurring pattern in rural Greek communities: some residents hesitate to evacuate in order to protect beehives, livestock, or crops on their land.
Critics also highlighted the risk posed by homes built directly on the edge of forest boundaries. The Deputy Mayor of Oreokastro told ProtoThema that the fire spread from "the back side of the mountain" with "great speed" through the forest canopy, leaving little time to react. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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