Wildfires in Chios: Island in Emergency State – Evacuation Orders for Four Areas

For an entire day, firefighters and residents have been battling wildfires on the island of Chios. Despite the efforts of additional firefighting forces arriving from Thessaloniki and Athens last night, the flames continue to burn uncontrollably due to strong winds. At 1:30 PM (June 23, 2025), a new message from emergency services instructed residents of Vessa, Lithi, Elata, and Armolia to evacuate towards the closed gymnasium in Livadiou Chios. The evacuation is part of a larger effort to manage the wildfire crisis. The Greek government has declared a state of emergency for the Municipality of Chios for one month to address the urgent needs caused by the wildfires. More than 200 firefighters are actively combating the fires with at least 10 aerial vehicles providing support.