Major wildfires continue to rage across Greece and Portugal

Multiple wildfires have severely affected several regions across Greece since July 29, 2026, including Boeotia, Argolis, Rethymno in Crete, and the Poikilo Mountain area in Attica. The fires, fueled by gale-force winds reaching 8-9 Beaufort, forced large-scale evacuations, most notably in Agios Vasileios, Boeotia, where over 250 residents and tourists were rescued by sea. In southern Rethymno, a deadly blaze resulted in the loss of two firefighters, leading authorities to arrest a local DEDDIE network operations manager on charges of arson through negligence for failing to maintain electrical infrastructure near Kria Vrysi.

Simultaneously, Portugal has been battling a large wildfire since July 28 in the Valpacos region, which spread to the municipality of Mirandela. Approximately 800 firefighters were mobilized to contain the blaze, which has reached 80% containment. The fire resulted in five injuries, including three firefighters and one gendarme. As of early August, Greek authorities remain on high alert, with ongoing operations to contain flare-ups and prevent further destruction, while judicial proceedings against responsible parties for the Rethymno tragedy are expected to continue.