Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft were battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the Greek island of Chios on Tuesday after authorities declared a state of emergency.
Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos.
By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts.
Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support.
Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island’s main town.
Apocalyptic scenes captured in images and videos showed firefighters battling the flames as the wildfires raged on, while thick plumes of black smoke filled the sky.
Other footage showed helicopters spraying water over smoke-filled fields.
The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze.
Firefighters try to tackle a wildfire burning on Chios island, Greece, June 23, 2025
Greece has declared a state of emergency as wildfires burned for the third day in the island of Chios
A firefighting helicopter in action during wildfire operations on Chios Island
‘We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island – a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental,’ Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said Monday from Chios.
Authorities, he said, were ‘very seriously examining the possibility of an organized criminal act, in other words arson.’
The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced, while military patrols had been doubled.
‘Whoever thinks that they can play with the lives of citizens and cause chaos with premeditated actions will be led to court,’ Kefalogiannis said.
‘Arson is a serious crime and will be dealt with as such.’
Chios is in the midst of tourist season and authorities also want to prevent the fires reaching areas famous for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees.
The popular tourist destination was ravaged by wildfires last summer after a prolonged drought, which saw holidaymakers being forced to evacuate the island after the flames ‘turned the sky black with smoke.’
Greece, Europe’s southernmost tip, is often hit by wildfires during its hot and dry summers but authorities have blamed a fast-changing climate for fuelling more destructive blazes in recent years.
The flames engulfed the island leaving firefighters struggling to contain what turned into one large fire
444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts on Tuesday. Picture shows a firefighter carrying a hose as a wildfire burns on Chios
Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday
Apocalyptic scenes captured in images and videos showed firefighters battling the flames
Flames rise as a wildfire burns on Chios island, Greece
Chios is in the midst of tourist season
The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze
The popular tourist destination was ravaged by wildfires last summer after a prolonged drought
Greece is often hit by wildfires during its hot and dry summers. Pictured: Volunteers in action during firefighting operations on Chios Island
Authorities have blamed a fast-changing climate for fuelling more destructive blazes in recent years
Firefighters in action during firefighting operations on Chios Island
In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee.
More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.
Athens has paid out hundreds of millions of euros in damages related to extreme weather to households and farmers and to update firefighting equipment.
It has a record of 18,000 firefighters this year in anticipation of a challenging fire season.
