ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities sent new evacuation notifications for two areas near the main town of the eastern Aegean island of Chios Monday morning, as firefighters struggled to control a major wildfire raging on the town’s outskirts for a second day.
The fire department said 190 firefighters were battling the blaze Monday. They were backed up by 35 vehicles, five helicopters and two water-dropping planes. Strong winds in the area since Sunday have hampered firefighting efforts.
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Local residents watch a wildfire approaching in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
A man uses a branch to battle against a large wildfire burning in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
A large wildfire burns trees in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
Firefighters battle with a large wildfire burning in Karyes village, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
Firefighters battle with a large wildfire burning in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
Push alerts have been sent to mobile phones in the area urging people to evacuate a total of 16 villages, settlements and neighborhoods on the outskirts of Chios town since the blaze broke out on Sunday.
The fire started in three separate locations. Authorities have sent a specialist fire department arson investigation team to the island to look into the causes.
Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers, but authorities have said climate change has been fueling bigger and more frequent blazes.
In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 people died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.
Local residents watch a wildfire approaching in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
A man uses a branch to battle against a large wildfire burning in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
A large wildfire burns trees in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
Firefighters battle with a large wildfire burning in Karyes village, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
Firefighters battle with a large wildfire burning in Kofinas, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, Greece, late Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Pantelis Fykaris/Politischios.gr via AP)
This photo gallery features some of the top photos of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia in the past week by AP photographer Thibault Camus. Nasser Al-Attiyah regained the lead in the rally after blasting the first all-sand stage of the race in the Saudi desert on Friday. Five-time champion Al-Attiyah dominated the second half of the 331-kilometer stage between Hail and Riyadh.
Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Rider Luciano Benavides competes during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Edouard Boulanger compete during the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Rider Arnau Lledo competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish in Alula, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz compete during the second stage of the Dakar Rally between Yanbu and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Simon Vitse and co-driver Max Delfino compete during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Spectators attend to the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Spectators watch driver Denis Krotov and co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov competing during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Nani Roma changes a tire of his car at the end of the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Mattias Ekstrom and co-driver Emil Bergkvist compete during the second stage of the Dakar Rally between Yanbu and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Mechanic Filip Skrobanek eats after he stopped for a bivouac following the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Drivers and co-drivers pack up their tents before the start of the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Laia Sanz and co-driver Maurizio Gerini compete during the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Rider Daniel Sanders drives beside camels during the second stage of the Dakar Rally between Yanbu and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Rider Skyler Howes competes during the first stage of the Dakar Rally in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Denis Krotov sits on a tire as co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov, unseen, repairs their car after they stopped for a bivouac at the end of the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz compete during the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Rider Luciano Benavides competes during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Driver Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli and co-driver Gonzalo Rinaldi compete during the third stage of the Dakar Rally with a start and finish in Alula, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
