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As summer temperatures soar across the Mediterranean, wildfires have erupted in Greece and Turkey, triggering mass evacuations, tragic losses, and urgent calls for climate resilience. The blazes—fueled by extreme heat, gale-force winds, and dry conditions—have scorched forests, threatened towns, and disrupted tourism in one of the world’s most beloved travel regions.
In Greece, the island of Crete and areas near Athens have been hardest hit. More than 5,000 people, including tourists and hotel staff, were evacuated from the southern coast of Crete as flames tore through the Ierapetra region.
Some residents fled into the sea, rescued by local fishermen and divers. Firefighting planes and helicopters have been deployed to contain the blaze, which has already consumed over 3,700 acres of land. In Koropi, near Athens, homes were damaged and ferry services disrupted as fires raged through nearby forests.
Meanwhile, Turkey is battling its own infernos. In the western province of Izmir, fires have claimed two lives—a forestry worker and an elderly resident—and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands.
The seaside town of Cesme, a popular vacation spot, saw three neighborhoods cleared and roads temporarily closed. Fires also flared near Antalya, Istanbul, and along the Turkish-Syrian border, where mountainous terrain and unexploded ordnance have complicated firefighting efforts.
Authorities in both countries have linked the fires to climate change, citing the increasing frequency and intensity of summer wildfires. Turkey’s parliament recently passed a landmark climate law targeting net-zero emissions by 2053, including the creation of a carbon market board to oversee emissions reductions.
The economic impact is already being felt. Tourism—a vital industry for both nations—is under threat, with resorts damaged and travel plans disrupted. Volunteers have reported burned livestock, damaged homes, and overwhelmed emergency shelters.
As firefighters continue their battle against nature’s fury, the wildfires serve as a stark reminder: the Mediterranean’s idyllic summers are becoming increasingly volatile, and the cost of inaction is rising with the smoke.