Herd of horses caught fleeing fire in Greece amid extreme heatwaves
A herd of horses was observed fleeing the flames during a massive forest fire raging across northwest Athens on August 3, 2026. The shocking scene reveals the intensity of the environmental crisis gripping the region.
The animals, spotted near the Kandili settlement, were spotted running desperately as the fire quickly consumed the field behind them. Images recorded the horses initially heading towards the flames before changing course and escaping the endangered area.
Fortunately, according to information released by local media outlets, the horses were not injured during the incident.
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Greece has been facing a severe wave of forest fires in recent days. The advance of the flames is intensified by persistent winds and a summer that has seen historically high temperatures across the European continent.
The impact of climate change on Europe
The entire European continent has been devastated by forest fires this summer, characterized by little rain and numerous heat waves that have reached historic records in several locations. Scientists point out that current climate conditions in Europe have been accentuated by climate change, creating an emergency scenario that overloads response systems and threatens ecosystems and communities. This combination of factors has led to an unprecedented fire season, straining firefighting resources and exposing the regions’ vulnerability.
In Greece, preliminary investigations suggest that the fire started in the Boeotia region before spreading to Attica. The likely cause would be sparks from conductors in a private network that transports energy from wind turbines to the main electrical grid, as revealed by investigation reports. Two Greek citizens were detained on suspicion of negligence, and a third suspect remains at large.
In a separate incident over the weekend, two helicopters used to fight the fires collided mid-air in the area of the Psatha settlement in West Attica. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of two crew members, and more than 100 homes were destroyed by fire.
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Fire forces evacuations on popular islands like Kefalonia
Greek firefighters struggled on August 2, 2026, to control a massive forest fire that had already devastated more than a hundred homes northwest of Athens. A new outbreak of flames required the evacuation of areas on the popular tourist island of Kefalonia.
Estimates from local sources indicate that more than 10 thousand hectares of forest area have already been consumed by flames across the country.
Although the strong winds that fueled the fire in the Porto Germeno region on the Gulf of Corinth, approximately 60 kilometers from Athens, have subsided, the flames have crossed a mountain to the south. They reached the settlement of Veniza and a military shooting range, where they activated unexploded ordnance.
The firefighting task force mobilized almost 500 Greek firefighters, supported by vehicles, heavy machinery and specialized aircraft. The operation also includes reinforcement from teams from France and Romania.
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Greece is not the only European country to be ravaged by wildfires this summer. The season has been marked by a lack of rain and several heat waves that have seen record temperatures in multiple locations. Experts and scientists say the extreme weather conditions observed in Europe may have been worsened by global climate change.
In the village of Agios Konstantinos, residents tried, on their own, to stop the spread of the fire. “The fire started last night, it’s true that they can’t be everywhere. We as residents are doing everything we can,” said 61-year-old Tasos Tzempelikos, who, alongside his son, threw water on the flames to protect his property.
Local press reports indicated that a coordinated effort was underway to prevent the fire in Veniza from reaching the nearby coastal town of Megara.
