The situation has improved significantly with the large wildfire that broke out Saturday afternoon in a forest and agricultural area in Almyropotamos, Karystos, on the island of Evia, as firefighting forces have managed to contain the active front and are now focusing their efforts on tackling scattered flare-ups.
Strong firefighting forces remain on the ground, with 120 firefighters, five infantry unit teams from the 4th, 10th, and 20th EMODE special operations groups, volunteers, and 35 fire engines working to fully demarcate and secure the perimeter. Until sunset, nine aircraft and seven helicopters — one of which served a coordinating role — provided aerial support. The contribution of Civil Protection and Local Government was also crucial, with water tankers and heavy machinery reinforcing the firefighting effort.
According to the Deputy Regional Governor of Central Greece, Giorgos Kelaiditis, the active front was brought under control before sunset, thanks to the coordinated action of ground and aerial forces that prevented the fire from spreading toward residential areas. “The forces of the Fire Service, the Hellenic Police, the volunteers, and the machinery operators fought a great battle and managed to avert the worst,” he stated in a post, while also stressing the need for heightened vigilance ahead of the most dangerous period for forest fires.
At the same time, according to local media, aerial operations were hampered by water-intake problems in the wider Karystos area, forcing aircraft and helicopters to travel as far as Aliveri to refuel — significantly increasing turnaround times between drops. As a precautionary measure, authorities also cut electricity supply to parts of the area in order to reduce the risk of new ignition points and facilitate the work of firefighting crews.
Despite the clear improvement in conditions, forces remain on full alert throughout the night, as strong winds and high temperatures continue to create elevated risk conditions for new flare-ups.
Evia wildfire: Emergency 112 alerts issued for evacuation of Mesochoria and Raptaioi
It is worth noting that two emergency alerts were sent via the 112 emergency number during the course of the fire. The first, at 5:05 PM, called on residents of the Mesochoria and Raptaioi areas to remain on standby, while the second, at 5:58 PM, requested their immediate evacuation toward Styra as a precautionary safety measure.
⚠️ 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Alert activated
🆘 Forest fire in the Almyropotamos area of the Evia Regional Unit
‼️ If you are in the areas of #Mesochoria and #Raptaioi, remain on standby and follow the instructions of the Authorities
ℹ️ https://t.co/kexUnlnGMV @pyrosvestiki…
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) June 20, 2026
#Wildfire in a forest area in the Almyropotamos region, Karystos, #Evia.
70 firefighters were mobilized with 3 infantry teams from the 20th and 4th #EMODE, #volunteers, 20 vehicles, 3 helicopters and 6 aircraft.
Support provided by municipal water tankers and heavy machinery.
— Hellenic Fire Service (@pyrosvestiki) June 20, 2026
See photos and videos from the Evia wildfire front:
