A body was found on Tuesday inside a wildfire zone near Thessaloniki, northern Greece, as firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that forced the evacuation of a nearby village.
The remains were located in a forested area at Derveni, within the municipality of Oraiokastro, close to the village of Liti. Officials had not immediately identified the deceased, and the circumstances of the death remained unclear.
No additional information about the man was released by authorities.
Woman with burns rescued near home as Thessaloniki wildfire spreads
Firefighters also brought a woman to safety after finding her with burns outside a residence in the affected area. She was later transferred to an ambulance from Greece’s national emergency medical service.
Police officers and medical teams were positioned around the fire perimeter as emergency crews worked to protect residents and homes.
Blaze spread quickly toward forested area
The fire started at approximately 2:30 p.m. in an agricultural area between Oraiokastro and Liti, burning grain fields and dry grass before moving into nearby forestland.
Strong winds made the firefighting operation more difficult, while large columns of smoke were visible from a distance. The area was under a Category 3 high fire risk warning on Tuesday.
112 Alerts sent as Liti evacuated
Authorities issued the first warning through 112, the European emergency number, at 3:50 p.m., advising residents to remain alert and follow official instructions.
A second 112 alert later ordered the evacuation of Liti, directing residents to move toward the village’s soccer field.
More than 100 firefighters deployed to Thessaloniki wildfire
Firefighting forces were reinforced as the operation continued through the afternoon. According to the latest update, 115 firefighters were deployed, including three forest commando units, supported by 36 vehicles and volunteers.
Ten aircraft and three helicopters were assigned to the aerial firefighting operation, flying in rotation over the affected area.
Greece’s national emergency coordination center also maintained a continuous drone feed from the scene, using optical and thermal cameras to support the response, according to the fire service.
