Wildfire forces asylum seekers from Greece camp

By AFP
June 23, 2025
A vehicle passes firefighters standing by the road as the Park Fire burns, near Jonesville, California, US, July 28, 2024. — Reuters
A vehicle passes firefighters standing by the road as the Park Fire burns, near Jonesville, California, US, July 28, 2024. — Reuters

ATHENS: A forest blaze forced officials to clear hundreds of asylum seekers from a reception camp on the Greek island of Chios on Sunday, the migration ministry said.

Chios, off Turkiye´s west coast, is a frequent landing point for migrants trying to reach Europe. Civil Protection said more than a dozen nearby villages were also emptied as a precaution after the fire flared on Sunday morning.

About 100 firefighters, 30 fire engines, two water-bombers and 10 helicopters battled the flames, the fire service said. Teams from Athens arrived by the afternoon to back local crews as strong winds fanned the blaze.