Fire forces are fought with flames for the second night in the fires that have erupted since Sunday, June 22, at noon in Chios. The island was declared Monday afternoon in an emergency.

The ground forces focus on the piece to Dafnonas, in the west of the city of Chios, having split throughout the perimeter of the fire to face fireplaces, at the same time making great efforts to limit any resuscitation.

Twenty minutes after midnight with a message from 112 it was asked by residents in the area of ​​Lithi to move away through Kontelou to the Neochori Community Hall.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, 92 firefighters from Athens and Thessaloniki arrived by air, including 80 from the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 9th and 10th EMO.

282 firefighters are operating at the spot and, as it became known from the Fire Brigade until the early hours of the morning, the number of firefighters will have reached 444 firefighters with 21 forestry groups, 85 vehicles and 30 volunteers- hiking sections- with 4 volunteers.

For the aircraft, 4 aircraft and 13 helicopters were made and periodically operated, one of which for their coordination.

In Chios is the “OLYMPOS” mobile business center while a contribution to the extinguishing work are provided by aquifers and projects of the Greek Army and Local Government (OTA).

According to the Fire Brigade, the fires that broke out on Sunday morning and noon and Monday have affected mainly agricultural land as well as low vegetation. Fire Brigade officers express moderate optimism that the powerful ground forces that will attempt to limit fires throughout the night in combination with the reduced winds as well as the throws from the air with the first light of the day.

Shortly after 10pm, residents of Verberatos and dough was asked for the second time to remove them and head to the city of Chios.

It is noteworthy that in the morning and noon, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, three different forest fires were displayed on the island of Chios and specifically in the areas, Kofina, Agia ‘Anna and Agios Makarios Vrontades. Shortly after midnight, a fourth fire broke out in the area of ​​Agios Markos, and on the morning of Monday, June 23, 2025, a fifth fire in the Agiasia area was also brought.

Kefalogiannis: Considering organized criminal activity

In Chios, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Yiannis Kefalogiannis, went to Chios due to the alarming situation from the 5 different fires on the island. Mr. Kefalogiannis, accompanied by the Secretary General of Civil Protection, Nikos Papaefstathiou, held a meeting of Civil Protection Coordinating Body and announced that the Civil Protection Secretary declared the island in an emergency.

As the minister said, the state is seriously considering the possibility of organized criminal activity, namely arson while referring to both the firefighting forces and the police, also stressing that the military panels are doubled. In addition, Mr Kefalogiannis pointed out that “when fires erupt at the same time in such scattered places, we must talk about suspicious activity”, while sending a strict message, stressing that “anyone who thinks he can play with the lives of citizens and cause chaos”.

Scale of arson crimes in Chios

It is noted that on the island since Sunday there is a step of the Arson Criminal (DAE) Directorate and, in cooperation with forces of the island’s state security, are investigating the causes of the fires.

Transfer of tobacco from fires to Chios to Cyclades and Crete

It is worth pointing out that as the Information Node on the atmospheric recommendation in Greece, Atmohub, coordinated by the NOA-React team of IAADET/National Observatory of Athens, analyzing the Fire Radiative Power satellite observations data from the Satellite Satellite Observations. Tobacco emissions have been launched, the Atmohub Flexubart Predictive Model for the prognosis of tobacco transposed on the morning of June 23, with a time horizon until 23:00 in the evening.

According to the results of the prognosis, tobacco is transported south of Chios, with the main areas of the Cyclades, especially Mykonos, Paros, Ios and Naxos, as well as Crete.