News Briefs
Greece has been devastated by a series of wildfires this summer, with new fires breaking out after the catastrophic events in July, resulting in loss of life, destruction of property, and forced evacuations. The fires have ravaged large areas of land, including the Parnitha National Park, the Viotia region, and the northern regions of Rodopi and Evros, with the largest recorded fire in northeastern Greece burning over 75,000 hectares and raising concerns about the country’s lack of adequate preventive measures against wildfires.
Greece has seen no respite from the catastrophic wildfires this summer.
After the devastating fires of July, a new wave of wildfires broke out across the country, mainly affecting the northwestern outskirts of Athens, including the Parnitha National Park, the Viotia region in central Greece and the northern regions of Rodopi and Evros.
Our mill remained intact, but the damage is incalculable. Our burned centenarian Makri trees cannot be replaced in any way.- Dimitris Adamidis, owner, Konos
The fires have tragically claimed human lives and destroyed livelihoods, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes in the impacted areas.
In Evros, bordering Turkey, rescuers found 18 burned bodies near the Dadia forest, believed to be migrants trying to cross Greece.
See Also:Olive Growers on Evia Island Strive to Revive Fire-Damaged GrovesMeteorologists had warned of dangerous hot-dry-windy (HDW) conditions prevailing over much of the country from August 20th. The HDW index determines which days the atmospheric conditions can make a wildfire difficult to control.
“In my 32 years of service, I have never experienced similar extreme conditions,” Yiorgos Pournaras, head of the Greek fire service, told a press briefing.
However, according to a report in the New York Times, the country has failed to implement adequate preventive measures against wildfires, such as digging firebreaks and clearing brush and grasses from forests.
In northeastern Greece, a fire that erupted near the port city of Alexandroupolis has already ravaged more than 7,500 hectares of forest land and crops, also threatening the nearby settlements of Makri, Dikella and Agia Paraskevi.
Fanned by strong winds, the flames quickly engulfed the traditional Makri olive grove, a continuously cultivated area comprising more than 200,000 trees of the indigenous Makri variety, some of which are thousands of years old.
As the fire advanced, consuming olive trees, equipment and buildings, local olive oil producers were left in despair.
“The fire tore right through our groves,” Dimitris Adamidis, owner of the local Konos company, told Olive Oil Times.
“Many of our olive trees and part of our warehouses and equipment were destroyed,” Adamidis continued. “Our mill remained intact, but the damage is incalculable. Our burned centenarian Makri trees cannot be replaced in any way.”
Other producers in the area of Makri narrowly escaped the raging flames.
“The whole mountain was ravaged,” said Valia Kellidou of Kyklopas. “[Our mill] would have burned if the blaze came down toward the sea. We operated all our wells and fought the flames for three days.”
Kelidou also noted that an estimate of the damage caused to the area’s olive trees is impossible at the moment.
Makri is the northernmost area of Greece where olive trees are cultivated, with a microclimate that gives relatively dry summers and cold winters.
The area produces the Protected Designation of Origin-certified Makri olive oil, with yields ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 tons each season.
According to the European Climate Change Service Copernicus, the wildfire in northeastern Greece is the largest recorded on European soil in years, having already burned more than 75,000 hectares.
The overall toll of wildfires in Greece this year is exceptionally high: around 128,000 hectares of land have been burned since the beginning of 2023, a massive 195 percent more than the average area destroyed by fires in the country each year.
More articles on: Greece, millennial trees, natural disasters
May. 6, 2025
Olive Council Tests Plan to Help Olive Farmers Sell Carbon Credits
The Carbon Balance project assesses olive groves as natural carbon sinks, generating carbon credits for farmers through sustainable land management.
May. 22, 2025
Revised Agricultural Policy Aimed at Helping Small European Farmers
The proposed amendments include higher payments for small farmers and streamlining regulations.
Sep. 12, 2024
Unidentified Issue Triggering Early Fruit Drop in Northern Italy
Farmers are concerned about widespread and unexplained instances of immature olives falling in Frantoio groves. Extreme weather is thought to be the cause.
Nov. 15, 2024
U.S. Consumers Embrace Olive Oil in Squeeze Bottles
Despite the growing popularity of squeeze bottles for their convenience, some question the potential impact on olive oil quality and the environmental burden of the packaging.
Nov. 20, 2024
Olive Oil Sommelier Program Returns to London
The Olive Oil Times Education Lab will return to Central London with its flagship five-day Sommelier program.
Nov. 7, 2024
Harvest in Greece Runs Into Early Problems
The ongoing drought battering southern Greece threatens to reduce this year's expected olive oil yield of around 240,000 tons.
Feb. 18, 2025
Safeguarding Unique Olive Farming Traditions on Italy’s Pantelleria Island
Olive farming on the Sicilian island has unique features resulting from a peculiar pruning and training system that encourages horizontal growth.
Jan. 28, 2025
Mill Wastewater Extract Yields Promising Health Benefits
A dietary supplement made with hydroxytyrosol extracted from olive mill wastewater inhibited the production of inflammatory compounds and showed antibacterial properties.