Wildfires force tourist evacuations in northern Greece's Halkidiki region

On August 13, 2026, a wind-driven wildfire swept through the resort town of Siviri in northern Greece's Halkidiki region, damaging holiday apartments and forcing over 300 tourists and residents to evacuate by sea. More than 140 firefighters, nine aircraft, and seven helicopters battled the blaze, which injured one firefighter. The incident comes amid successive European heatwaves that have fueled severe wildfires and drought across Greece, France, and Croatia, where blazes also forced evacuations.

Halkidiki wildfire evacuations

• ▪A wildfire driven by powerful winds swept through homes and trees near resorts in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece on August 13, 2026.
• ▪The wildfire in northern Greece severely damaged holiday rental apartments and balconies facing the open sea in the resort town of Siviri.
• ▪The Greek coast guard evacuated over 300 people by vessel from the coastal town of Siviri on August 13, 2026, utilizing patrol craft, firefighting boats, and local fishing vessels.

European summer heatwave

• ▪French environment minister Monique Barbut stated on August 12, 2026, that the summer heatwaves could result in up to €15 billion in direct and indirect costs.
• ▪Successive heatwaves during the summer of 2026 intensified drought, strained water supplies, and left vegetation tinder-dry across Europe, fueling active wildfire seasons in France, Spain, and Greece.

Drought conditions across Europe

• ▪Roughly 1,200 people were evacuated from a campsite due to two wildfires near a beach in northern France's Pas-de-Calais department on August 12, 2026.
• ▪Vegetation across Europe flourished after a relatively wet winter before drying out during rolling heatwaves in the summer of 2026.

Firefighting deployment operations

• ▪More than 140 firefighters, nine aircraft, and seven helicopters were deployed to battle the wildfire raging on both sides of the main road from Siviri to Kassandreia on August 13, 2026.
• ▪One Greek firefighter was injured and traffic was stopped along the main road from Siviri to Kassandreia due to the wildfire on August 13, 2026.

Croatia Dalmatian coast fires

• ▪Heavy gusts of wind on August 13, 2026, hindered firefighting efforts on Croatia's Dalmatian coast, where a major highway was shut down due to a blaze in the Lokva Rogoznica area.
• ▪Evacuations were initiated in Croatia on August 13, 2026, as flames spread through trees surrounding a main road and built-up coastal areas near Omis.

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