Deadly Greek Wildfire Claims Life, Forces Liti Evacuation as Firefighters Battle Expanding Blaze

A man was found dead amid an uncontrolled wildfire that erupted in northern Greece, prompting the evacuation of residents from a nearby village.

His body was discovered in a charred zone near Liti, roughly 15 km northwest of Thessaloniki, where over 100 firefighters are battling to contain the fire.

A woman was injured while attempting to fight the flames, sustaining burns to her hands; hot, windy conditions further hindered the firefighting response.

Dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft joined a large‑scale operation late Tuesday, confronting a fire front up to 5 km long that continued to spread.

The cause of the blaze, which ignited around 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT) and rapidly expanded into a nearby forest, remains under investigation.

The area was under a high wildfire risk alert on Tuesday; dry conditions and strong winds exacerbated containment efforts and led to recurring flare‑ups.

Residents of Liti were ordered to abandon their homes as Greek broadcaster ERT reported minor property damage; the fire advanced toward the neighboring village of Melissochori on Tuesday evening.

This incident is the latest in a series of forest fires Greece has faced as the nation prepares for its peak tourist season; wildfires have become a frequent menace during summers marked by recurring droughts and heatwaves.

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