The Greece Guides

Greece: 112 Emergency Alerts Fired in Thessaloniki and Evia

· 2 min read Travel News
Greek landscape in summer

Contents

  1. What Is the 112 Alert?
  2. Thessaloniki: Vasilika Fire
  3. Evia: Ongoing Concerns
  4. Practical Advice for Travellers

Greek authorities activated the 112 emergency alert system on 14 July 2026 for two separate active wildfire fronts: one near Vasilika, southeast of Thessaloniki, and one on the island of Evia. Both incidents required aerial firefighting support, with Canadair aircraft and helicopter units deployed to both locations.

What Is the 112 Alert?

Greece’s 112 emergency alert system sends automatic SMS messages to all mobile phones within a defined geographic zone. Receiving a 112 alert requires immediate action — residents and visitors in the alert area must evacuate the named zone without delay. The alert specifies the affected area and the evacuation direction.

Tourists who have roaming-enabled international SIM cards in Greece may or may not receive 112 alerts, depending on their network and roaming agreements. If you are in a wildfire-prone area during high-risk conditions, do not rely on the 112 SMS alone — monitor local news and civil protection social media accounts.

Thessaloniki: Vasilika Fire

A wildfire broke out in the forested hills near Vasilika, approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Thessaloniki city centre. Aerial units and ground crews were deployed rapidly. The fire did not threaten the main urban area of Thessaloniki as of the time of writing, but the 112 alert applied to residential areas within the Vasilika municipality. Local authorities have not announced road closures affecting the main routes into the city.

Evia: Ongoing Concerns

Evia (also spelled Euboea) remains one of the highest-risk areas for wildfires in Greece following the devastating 2021 fires that burned a large portion of the island’s northern forests. The fire that prompted today’s 112 alert is in a separate southern zone; full details on the affected localities are available via the Greek General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

Practical Advice for Travellers

  • Check the best time to visit Greece page for updated wildfire risk context during the July–August peak season.
  • Download the 112 Greece app (available on iOS and Android), which delivers civil protection alerts even without Greek roaming.
  • If your accommodation is near forested areas, ask staff about the evacuation plan before you need it.
  • For transport alternatives between destinations, the getting around Greece guide covers ferry, bus, and rail options that may serve as alternatives if road routes are affected by fire or smoke.

We will update this article as the Vasilika and Evia fire situations develop.