Greece wildfire kills two near Thessaloniki as evacuations urged

Two people have died and a child has been reported missing after a fast-moving wildfire swept through forest near Liti, around 25km north-west of Thessaloniki, prompting evacuations and disruption in a key northern Greece tourism corridor ahead of peak summer season.

Firefighters recovered the body of a 66-year-old man near a burned property, while a second body was found inside a destroyed home in the same forested area. A 40-year-old woman rescued from the house with burn injuries is in stable condition in hospital. Authorities say the missing 12-year-old is believed to be related to those involved.

The Hellenic Fire Service said the blaze ignited in dry vegetation on Tuesday afternoon and spread rapidly through forested terrain under strong winds and drought conditions. At its height, more than 100 firefighters, supported by aircraft, were deployed as flames advanced towards nearby settlements, triggering evacuation advisories for residents in affected villages.

The fire has since weakened, but crews remain on site monitoring hotspots and investigating the cause.

The incident has disrupted local communities near Thessaloniki, an area that also sees summer visitor traffic linked to northern Greece tourism routes.