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Smoke is seen inside a burned house as a wildfire burns in Rafina, east of Athens, Greece, Thursday, July 3, 2025, with several houses destroyed in the area.

Video. Wildfires hit Greece’s mainland and islands, forcing evacuations

Updated:

Greek firefighters battled fierce wildfires on Thursday as flames near Athens and on the island of Crete forced thousands to flee their homes and holiday resorts.

Near the port of Rafina, 30 kilometres east of the Greek capital, local ferry services were disrupted as crews fought to contain flames in the town of Pikermi, where scorched buildings and trees smouldered.

On Crete, over 5,000 people, including tourists and hotel staff, were evacuated from the Ierapetra region. Some were rescued from the sea by local fishermen.

Summer wildfires are frequent in Greece, with experts warning climate change is fuelling their intensity.

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