LE PORGE, France — Europe’s wildfire emergency eased in much of western Europe on Saturday, but the most dangerous situation shifted to Greece. Gale-force winds drove flames through a seaside resort, forcing hundreds to evacuate by sea and hampering firefighting efforts. The danger in Greece carried grim memories of the catastrophic wildfire in 2018, which resulted in 104 fatalities in the seaside community of Mati near Athens, marking it as the deadliest wildfire in Europe this century.
In southwestern France, firefighters managed to keep a vast wildfire under control, allowing approximately 198,000 residents to return home after what has been described as the country’s largest peacetime evacuation. Major fires in Spain have also ceased to advance, and the primary blaze in Portugal is now under control. However, another fire in France stopped expanding after covering 10 square kilometers in just six hours, remaining active with 2,500 individuals still unable to return to their homes.
The overall situation in western Europe reflects a significant improvement from the peak of the crisis when wildfires in France and Spain displaced around 300,000 people from their homes and vacation sites. This led to heightened demands on firefighters and emergency services, especially during the summer holiday season. Europe has been identified as the fastest-warming continent on Earth, experiencing temperature rises more than double the global average since the 1980s, which has contributed to the intensity and spread of wildfires.
Meanwhile, in Greece, nearly 500 firefighters were engaged on Saturday to protect Porto Germeno, a popular resort on the Gulf of Corinth, as flames consumed thick pine forests and smoke obscured the sun. The fire ignited on Friday near the coastal village of Agios Vasileios, prompting authorities to evacuate around 300 people by sea, with additional evacuation orders issued on Saturday. A resident described the destruction as “total destruction,” lamenting the loss of a pristine forest.
The wildfire meteorologist at the National Observatory of Athens, Theodore Giannaros, estimated that 40 to 50 square kilometers had been affected; however, officials had yet to provide an official burned-area figure. The firefighting operation included specialized forest-fire teams and support from temporary crews from France and Romania, as well as 19 water-dropping planes and 11 helicopters. New fires were reported elsewhere in Greece, leading to evacuation alerts for multiple villages.
In France, the Gironde fire has scorched approximately 420 square kilometers of pine forest west of Bordeaux, an area four times the size of Paris. While it remained contained within its perimeter, authorities had not declared it “fixed,” meaning that active sectors and hidden hot spots could still pose risks. Although some communities were reopened on Friday, many remained deserted, with ongoing concerns about potential flare-ups in near areas.
In the Mediterranean Var region, defensive lines around the Gros Bessillon fire were maintained, preventing further ground from being burned. This blaze had initially been declared fixed, but gusty winds have reignited embers, leading to ongoing firefighting efforts. On Saturday, 1,300 firefighters were on the scene with around 2,500 individuals still unable to access their properties. An orange heat warning was in effect for twenty French departments, with eight facing high forest-fire risks.
As residents began to return to areas affected by the Gironde fire, the reality of their loss became apparent. Matthieu Plessis, returning to his family’s home in Le Porge that had stood for seven generations, found only ruins where a vibrant community once existed. The recent easing of the emergency turned into a moment of reckoning, as he struggled to identify the remnants of what once was. Despite the emotional toll, Plessis aimed to remain resilient and assist others who shared similar experiences.
Reported from Paris, with additional contributions from Athens and Porto Germeno in Greece.
