Hundreds of tourists were rescued by boat from beaches in northern Greece on Thursday as a forest fire bore down on two popular resorts in the Halkidiki peninsula south of Thessaloniki, highlighting Europe's selective mobilisation of resources in times of crisis. A fire service spokesman confirmed the evacuation had to be by sea because the flames were getting close to the beaches. This rapid, organised response for holidaymakers stands in stark contrast to the routine abandonment of migrants facing peril in the same waters.
Water bombing planes and helicopters, alongside almost 150 firefighters, battled the blaze. Two injured firefighters were taken to hospital. The fire spread across the Halkidiki peninsula south of Thessaloniki, threatening homes around the popular resorts of Siviri and Fourka within hours of erupting. These areas are packed with summer tourists, and the region is dominated by flammable pine forests, a vulnerability exacerbated by the escalating climate crisis.
Europe's Selective Response
Greece's civil protection agency sent evacuation warnings by phone to people in the two resorts. ERT public television reported that more than 250 tourists in bathing costumes, many carrying children in their arms, were evacuated by sea. Fifteen small boats were brought into service for the emergency. Dozens queued on a pontoon at Fourka, waiting to flee as smoke blotted out the sky over the resorts, according to images broadcast by ERT. There were also traffic jams of cars trying to leave Fourka and Siviri, a freedom of movement rarely afforded to those fleeing war or climate disaster.
ERT detailed a three-kilometre-long wall of flames, up to 30 metres high, closing in on the resorts. Sophia, a home owner in the region who only gave her first name, told AFP by phone: "We are on the beach and looking for a way to get away." She added: "From where we are, we can see that flames have reached the town and the houses." Firefighters stated that strong winds made the battle difficult. Greek authorities had issued a maximum five alert for fires for much of the Greek mainland, and Halkidiki authorities had banned the public from entering the region's pine forests. Weather forecasters predicted winds of up to 100 kilometres, or 60 miles, an hour on Friday.
The Climate Crisis and Unequal Protection
The authorities reported 40 forest fires across Greece in 24 hours, with nine still not controlled by late Thursday. Already this month, two crew from a helicopter helping to battle a forest fire near Athens died when their aircraft collided with another helicopter in mid-air. That fire destroyed 110 square kilometres of forest. These intensifying climate events drive displacement globally, yet Europe's borders remain closed to those most affected. The resources mobilised to protect tourist infrastructure stand in stark contrast to the Fortress Europe policies that criminalise movement and leave thousands to drown in the Mediterranean, often without rescue, or trapped in inhumane detention centres.