Wildfires in Greece lead to devastation and disruptions as the heat wave persists

At Athens International (ATH) on Saturday, travelers were fanning themselves with passports, boarding passes, and COVID-19 test printouts. The heat was particularly oppressive in crowded check-in and security lines.

The absence of air conditioning stemmed directly from power outages caused by the wildfires currently sweeping across Greece.

Greece has endured a severe heat wave for weeks, with some regions experiencing record temperatures over 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The Acropolis of Athens had to close during the hottest part of the afternoon last week to safeguard visitors and staff.

TPG's principal writer Gene Sloan faced frequent power outages at the Sofitel Athens Airport last week. While touring the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, the lights flickered and went out completely, leaving many rooms of the medieval castle in complete darkness.

In addition to straining the power supply and impacting popular tourist sites, the heat wave and drought have led to devastating wildfires throughout the country and neighboring Turkey.

On Sunday, Aug. 8, The New York Times reported that thousands more locals and tourists were evacuated. The forests on Evia island have been reduced to ashes, and fires have threatened ancient landmarks like Olympia. Many people have lost their businesses, homes, and even their lives.

Even far from the immediate threat of flames, smoke was visible—and detectable—around the Greek islands last week. Hazy skies served as a troubling reminder that wildfires can pose dangers even hundreds of miles away from the fire itself.

On Friday, Aug. 6, the U.S. Embassy in Greece issued a natural disaster alert warning travelers about the ongoing wildfire threat. Besides the power disruptions and deteriorating air quality, the embassy cautioned that wildfires could also impact water availability and cause significant flight delays.

Travelers to Greece should stay informed about the situation this summer and keep an eye on the daily fire risk map provided by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

Feature image of tourists on Evia awaiting a ferry to take them to mainland Greece on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. Photo by Konstantinos Tsakalidis/Bloomberg via Getty Images.