A fast-moving forest wildfire forced emergency evacuations in the popular resort of Siviri on Greece's Kassandra peninsula on August 13, 2026.
Emergency Evacuations Ordered Along Siviri and the Kassandra Peninsula
A major wildfire broke out around 2:00 PM on August 13, 2026, in the region of the Kassandra peninsula, the southwesternmost prong of the Halkidiki peninsula, according to Greek media reports. Through the 112 emergency alert system, state television ERT reported that officials instructed residents and tourists in Siviri to evacuate immediately and head toward Mola Kaliva. As the flames advanced rapidly through a pine forest, regional roads quickly became impassable. According to Plamen Delev, an evacuation message was received 15 kilometers from the dangerous fire zone. This evacuation was difficult because some roads were closed, forcing many people to travel through meadows and fields to escape, while others stayed on the beaches ready to enter the water if the fire reached them. Photoreporter Ivan Yanev also found himself in Siviri as the disaster unfolded.
The evacuation efforts extended to the sea as the afternoon progressed. After 5:00 PM, coast guard vessels and private boats evacuated stranded tourists by water after land routes were completely cut off. Bulgarian tourists reported on social media that they had been successfully evacuated from Siviri, though their luggage remained behind in the abandoned settlement. Shortly after 4:30 PM, the fire swept directly through the Nautilus community near Siviri, driving terrified residents toward the coast.
Massive Air and Ground Deployment Combats the Chalkidiki Blaze
Greek authorities mobilized significant firefighting assets to contain the fast-moving disaster. The operation involved 142 firefighters, including three specialized forest commando units, supported by 41 fire engines. The contingent included 12 firefighters operating three vehicles from Moldova who were deployed in Greece under the program for deploying European firefighters. Aerial support played a critical role in slowing the advance, with nine aircraft and three helicopters operating overhead, including one aircraft dedicated solely to coordination.
Local authorities supplemented the national response with municipal water tankers and heavy construction equipment. Two firefighters were injured, reported Greek Fire Service spokesperson Yannis Artopios, who specified that they were slightly injured and taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that no Bulgarian citizens had been reported injured or in distress, and the General Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Thessaloniki continued monitoring the situation and is ready to provide necessary consular assistance.
Severe Forest Access Restrictions Imposed Across Regional Municipalities
The outbreak coincided with extreme weather conditions that elevated the fire risk across the entire peninsula. To prevent additional disasters, local authorities introduced strict temporary limitations on the movement of people and vehicles within designated forest territories across the municipalities of Kassandra, Sithonia, and Aristotle, effective from August 14. For Kassandra and Sithonia, the ban applies between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, while a stricter regime is set for Aristotle where the fire risk is assessed as very high, with restrictions lasting until 8:00 AM on August 15. Police established checkpoints to control access to all forestry roads, warning that violators who fail to comply can be removed from risky areas and face a 300-euro administrative fine. These restrictions do not apply to volunteers involved in fire prevention activities, and the measures affect parts of Kassandra and Sithonia, as well as territories between Komitsa and Ouranoupoli and around Stratoni, with authorities urging locals and tourists to follow official statements and instructions.
Concurrent Wildfires in Greece and the Warning Signs Ahead
The crisis in Halkidiki unfolded alongside simultaneous blazes in other parts of Greece. In the western Peloponnese, a fire broke out in low vegetation near Vartholomio in the Ilia region, while a separate fire developed in a wooded area near Makyneia in the Nafpaktos area, with both sites seeing mobilized ground and aerial firefighting forces. Authorities called on people in the affected areas to remain on high alert and follow the instructions of the services.
The situation in Siviri underscores the extreme conditions as the regional road in the Siviri-Fourka section was crossed by flames heading toward the sea. As the fire spreads while Halkidiki faces serious danger of new fires arising under unfavorable conditions, local authorities and emergency teams continue to manage the active threats across the region.
