STORY: A wildfire near the city of Patras, in western Greece, prompted the evacuation of at least 25 settlements on Tuesday (August 12) and Wednesday (August 13), as fires persisted throughout the country.

Red flames and dark smoke billowed over a cement factory that was set alight by the fast-spreading wildfire, which swept through olive tree orchards and forests, and disrupted train and road traffic.

Despite evacuation warnings, many local residents stayed behind to protect their properties, while others watched in despair and anger as their livelihoods were swallowed by the flames.

The fire that broke out on Tuesday quickly spread across the industrial zone of Patras, destroying homes, cars, workshops and factories, and remained out of control on Wednesday.

At the same time, fires burned on the tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos and in at least four inland spots on Wednesday. Some 4,850 firefighters assisted by 33 aircraft were deployed at first light to contain the flames stoked by winds and drought after months of little or no rain all over the country.

Temperatures were expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places, and gust winds were forecast for some Greek seas on Wednesday.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: FIRE BURNING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AREA, CONSUMING HOUSES AND FACTORIES / LOCAL RESIDENTS IN DISTRESS / COMMENTS BY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND EVACUEE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SICHAINA, NEAR PATRAS, GREECE (AUGUST 13, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF TILE FACTORY BURNING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) VOLUNTEER, GIORGOS KARAVANIS, SAYING:

“What does it look like? It looks like doomsday. We came from Athens with our volunteer association Kleisthenis, we can’t do anything more. May God help us and help the people here.”

3. VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING BEHIND FACTORY

4. VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING THROUGH BUILDING

5. VARIOUS OF WOMAN PANTING, LOOKING AT HER PHONE, HOLDING HER FACE IN HER PALMS, DROPPING HER HEAD ON HER FOREARMS BEHIND A WIRED FENCE

6. MAN SHOUTING ON PHONE (Greek): “The helicopter is dropping water at an abandoned factory. We are at the tile factory next to it!"

7. MAN AND WOMAN HOLDING EACH OTHER, CRYING AND SCREAMING, OTHERS WALKING

8. VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING THROUGH TREES AND BUILDINGS

9. MAN LOOKING OVER WIRE FENCE AT FLAMES BURNING IN DISTANCE, SAYING (Greek): “My house is on fire”

10. VARIOUS OF FLAMES BURNING TREES

11. MAN TRYING TO FIGHT FLAMES BURNING THROUGH BUSH USING BROOM, STEPPING AWAY AS FLAMES GET STRONGER

12. HELICOPTER DROPPING WATER AND FLYING AMID SMOKE

13. FIRE TRUCK DRIVING THROUGH, DRIVER SHOUTING (Greek): “Everyone out!”

14. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTER AND TRUCK SURROUNDED BY DENSE SMOKE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY STUDENT FROM BANGLADESH, SABBIR AHMED SILBI, 28, SAYING:

“We saw from our dormitory the fire, and it was quite far, so I didn’t actually feel as if it is a risk and it will come to Korydallos suburb and the nearby areas.”

16. WOMAN WALKING FAST DOWN ROAD, CARRYING HER SUITCASE AND COVERING HER MOUTH AND NOSE WITH HER HAND

17. (SOUNDBITE)(English) EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY STUDENT FROM BANGLADESH, SABBIR AHMED SILBI, 28, SAYING:

“Our hostel supervisor, coordinator, Lucas, he came and just took us here. So we are waiting for his next action.”

18. VARIOUS OF ELDERLY COUPLE LEAVING THEIR HOUSE, GETTING IN THEIR CAR AND LEAVING

19. VARIOUS OF SUN RISING BEHIND BLACK SLOPE AMID DENSE SMOKE