Fire Devastates Chios: Over 62,000 Acres of Greenery Turned to Ash

Although the situation has improved according to the Fire Service, wildfires continue to ravage forested areas on the island, with over 62,000 acres reduced to ash in the last 48 hours. Strong winds and repeated flare-ups have made it extremely difficult for firefighters, volunteers, and aerial resources to extinguish the blaze. A glance at drone footage from politischios.gr reveals the extent of the devastation. Images of scorched land around Kofina, Agios Panteleimon, Monodendri, as well as above Vrontado and Zifia, bear no resemblance to how these areas looked just three days ago. In a matter of hours, the fire obliterated vast expanses and homes alike. What was once a source of life and oxygen, home to lush vegetation and wildlife, now lies silent and barren. The sight of the ‘blackened’ side of the island leaves locals heartbroken as they witness their homeland transformed overnight. The fiery inferno invaded the urban fabric of the island, threatening lives, terrifying neighborhoods, and evacuating entire settlements. Forests that remained untouched for decades were turned to ash in mere hours. Chios has suffered severe damage from wildfires in the past. In 2012, the island endured another wildfire in its forests, while in 2016 residents mourned loved ones lost to flames. Ultimately, in 2025, the island succumbed to the mercy of the fire that destroyed everything in its path.