Forest Fire (20661 ha) in Greece 18 Jul 2023

Event summary

Forest fire can have a medium humanitarian impact based on the burned area and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID WF 1015913
Glide number: WF-2023-000118-GRC
Countries: Greece
Start Date - Last detection*: 18 Jul 2023 - 27 Jul 2023
Duration (days): 9
People affected: 913 in the burned area
Burned area: 20661 ha
More Info: Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

GDACS Score

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Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Greece - Wildfires, update (ECHO 25 Jul 2023)Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:13

  • According to the Greek Civil Protection, as of 24 July, more than 500 wildfires occurred in the country since 12 July, resulting in evacuations and widespread damage. The major wildfires not fully contained are currently three.
  • The first, across central Rhodes Island (Dodecanese Islands, south-eastern Greece), started on 18 July. According to the JRC European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the burnt area is more than 14,600 hectares. The second, in the Corfu Island (Ionian Island, north-western Greece), started on 23 July. According EFFIS, the burnt area is approximately 1,100 hectares. The third, in the Evia Island (central Greece), started on 23 July. According EFFIS, the burnt area is around 1,500 hectares.
  • The Greek Civil Protection reports around 20,000 evacuted people across the Rhodes Island and nearly 2,500 evacuated people in the Corfu Island.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated in rapid mapping mode for all the three mentioned wildfires (EMSR675, 677 and 678 respectively).
  • 10 countries are contributing to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) response to the wildfires in Greece. In total, over 480 firefighters and 7 planes from the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP) and from rescEU have been deployed. 
  • Over the next 48 hours, according to JRC EFFIS, the fire danger forecast is expected from very high to very extreme across Rhodes, from very high to extreme in Evia and high in Corfu.
Forest fire in Greece - EC/ECHO daily mapThu, 27 Jul 2023 17:58

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Greece - Wildfires, update (ECHO 28 Jul 2023)Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:59

  • Wildfires continue to affect the country, especially close to Volos City where an area of 7,000 ha is burning.
  • According to the Greek Civil Protection and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, two people died and the settlements of Melissatika, Golden Beach Panagia, Velanidia, Marathos and Kritharia have been evacuated following the fires in the Volos area.
  • In Rhodes, ground forces are operating in order to contain the front in an area between the settlements of Vati, Profylia and the Holy Monastery of Tharri. The fire in Corfu is under control.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated 8 times in rapid mapping mode ().
  • Over 500 firefighters and 9 planes have been deployed via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, as well as a Liaison Officer from the Emergency Response Coordination Centre. 
  • Over the next 24 hours the weather forecast is expected to be at a high level risk.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

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Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (28), WMO (1), INFORM (2), JRC (1), (1),