Five Wildfires Lead to Evacuations, Destroyed Homes on Greek Island

Five Wildfires Lead to Evacuations, Destroyed Homes on Greek Island

Save Your Hood

Multiple wildfires that sparked within the span of two days have been raging on a Greek island this week, and you’re helping us aid those impacted.

Chios – a popular tourist destination with unique natural features that’s also home to more than 50,000 people – has been hit by five wildfires that started Sunday and Monday. With strong wilds and hot conditions, the flames quickly spread, leading to evacuations from 17 different communities.

Photo: Save Your Hood

Though the more than 400 firefighters fighting these blazes have gotten the upper hand, many homes have been destroyed or damaged, infrastructure damages have led to power outages, crops have been impacted, and water supply issues have also been reported.


SEND URGENT AID TO WILDFIRE VICTIMS IN GREECE

There’s also concern at least some of the fires may been started by people, so authorities have launched an arson investigation.

Photo: Save Your Hood

Giannis Kefalogiannis, Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, said Monday, “We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island — a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental.”

He added that authorities were “very seriously examining the possibility of an organized criminal act; in other words, arson.”

Thanks to your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and direct donations, our partner Greater Good Charities is responding to help victims of the fire. That includes providing emergency supplies like pet food and supporting organizations helping impacted wildlife. We're also sending blankets to help provide comfort.

Photo: Save Your Hood

GGC is no stranger to responding to increasingly worse wildfires in Greece. You can read about some of the wildlife whose care you helped support last year here.

With a disrupted tourism industry, destroyed homes, evacuees in limbo, and wildlife caught up the fires, aid is greatly needed. If you’d like to help further, click below!

Michelle Milliken

Michelle has a journalism degree and has spent more than seven years working in broadcast news. She's also been known to write some silly stuff for humor websites. When she's not writing, she's probably getting lost in nature, with a fully-stocked backpack, of course.

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