Greece is grappling with a dozen major wildfires across the country, with one blaze threatening Patras, the nation’s third-largest city, as a scorching heatwave fuels destructive fires across southern Europe.

Thousands of firefighters, supported by military forces, are engaged in a desperate struggle to contain the flames, which have forced the evacuation of thousands and caused widespread alarm.The fire service spokesman, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, described the situation as “difficult,” with responders waging a “tough battle” against the infernos. “It’s a cocktail of high temperatures, strong winds... and minimal humidity,” said Nikos Gyftakis, head of civil protection for Western Greece, in an interview with public broadcaster ERT. The extreme conditions have created a perfect storm for wildfires, challenging even the most seasoned firefighting efforts.

In Patras, AFP journalists witnessed residents and firefighters, aided by helicopters, frantically battling flames in scrubland and forests as thick smoke blanketed the area, severely limiting visibility. Authorities evacuated 12 children from a Patras hospital and relocated 80 elderly residents from a nearby retirement home. Local media reported that a historic 17th-century monastery in the area was also engulfed, with its roof consumed by flames.

Wildfires are also ravaging popular tourist destinations, including the Ionian islands of Zante and Cephalonia, as well as the Aegean island of Chios, which was already devastated by a massive fire in June that scorched over 4,000 hectares. On Tuesday, around 20 villages in the western Achaia region were evacuated, and the Greek coastguard reported rescuing nearly 80 people from Chios and areas near Patras.

Medical teams have treated 71 individuals, primarily in the western town of Preveza and the Patras region, as the fires continue to strain local resources. With Greece struggling to manage the crisis, the government has requested four water bombers through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to bolster its firefighting capabilities.

The escalating crisis has sparked criticism from the opposition PASOK Socialist party, which accused the conservative government of inadequate preparedness for wildfires that have become an annual challenge. “A fully reformed civil protection system with an emphasis on prevention is required,” PASOK stated, pointing to poor coordination and a lack of local emergency plans that have made firefighting efforts “extremely challenging.”

As Greece battles the flames amid unrelenting heat, the nation remains on high alert, with communities and responders bracing for further challenges in the days ahead. (ILKHA)