Greece Confirms Control Over Wildfires

Following a partial containment of the wildfires in Greece, firefighting teams continue to maintain control over the still-active fires on Saturday.

While the situation appears more manageable, the authorities are vigilant, anticipating the potential impact of strong winds during the day.

For the past two weeks, hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blaze on the islands of Rhodes and Corfu, as well as in the region of Magnesia in central Greece.

A spokesperson from the firefighting agency confirmed that there are no longer active fires" in Rhodes, Corfu, and Magnesia, which were the areas of most concern.

However, the agency also emphasized that scattered pockets of fire remain and that the number of deployed personnel will not be reduced until the major fires are fully extinguished, according to the spokesperson.

The Greek Meteorological Service forecasts winds reaching speeds of up to 50-60 kilometres per hour, posing a potential challenge to firefighting efforts.

After a slight decrease in temperatures over the past two days, the Greek Meteorological Service predicts a slight rise in temperatures, ranging from 32 to 34 degrees Celsius, and between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius in the central and southern regions of the country.

The combination of winds and intense heat remains a major factor exacerbating the situation, leading to rapid fire spread.

Experts have issued warnings that the Greek ecosystem is under threat after wildfires ravaged over 50,000 hectares in July, making it the "worst" month for wildfires in over a decade.

So far, the fires have claimed the lives of five individuals and prompted several evacuation operations, particularly on Rhodes, where 20,000 people were evacuated last week.