Wildfire in East Macedonia, Greece

EMSR686 - Situational reporting

Copernicus Emergency Management Service

26 April 2024

The situational reporting aims to provide a living synthesis view of the event and Copernicus Emergency Management Service products.

All the rapid mapping products for this event can be viewed and downloaded at: https://rapidmapping.emergency.copernicus.eu/EMSR686/download

Activation

Timeline

19/08 - Fire Danger

Fire danger was classified as Very Extreme Danger within the region of Evros according to the Fire Danger Forecast ( EFFIS )

19/08 (02:00) - Event description

Seven towns in the Greek region of Evros, in the northeast of the country, had to be evacuated this Saturday a few hours after the declaration of a large forest fire near the city of Alexandroupolis. The first evacuation order was directed this morning towards the towns of Nipsa, Aetochori and Pefka, followed by another message, sent around 4:00 p.m., which urged the evacuation of the towns of Loutros, Agnantia, Aristino and Doriko, reported the Greek newspaper ‘ Kathimerini ’. According to the Fire Department, there was currently no immediate danger to the population but, as is usual with fires in the area, strong winds and smoke made things difficult for nearby residents. The authorities closed the Egnatia highway in both directions until the junction of the Alexandroupolis industrial zone due to heavy smoke. ( Time News )

20/08 (08:36) - Activation start

On the 20th of August 2023 at 08:36 UTC, the General secretariat for Civil protection - Directorate for Emergency Planning and Response of Greece triggered Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping service to cover the fire event affecting Aristino area in Alexandroupolis municipality, Greece. Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping was requested to provide initial rough estimation, fire extent and daily monitoring emergency mapping.

20/08 (13:38) - First Estimate Product Delivery

Analysis of a Sentinel-3 image (300 m).

20/08 (21:40) - First Delineation Product - Delivery

Analysis of a Sentinel-2 image 10.0 m / 5040.8 ha burned.

21/08 (19:32) - Delineation Monitoring 01 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-3 image 2.0 m / 8529.4 ha burned.

25/08 (15:13) Delineation Monitoring 02 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-2 image 2.0 m / 67692.8 ha burned.

25/08 (16:39) Delineation Monitoring 03 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-2 image 2.0 m / 73526.5 ha burned.

26/08 (00:08) Delineation Monitoring 04 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a GeoEye-1 image 2.0 m / 75668.2 ha burned.

26/08 (20:52) Delineation Monitoring 05 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-3 image 2.0 m / 77066.2 ha burned.

28/08 (23:20) Delineation Monitoring 06 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-3 image 2.0 m / 80873.0 ha burned.

29/08 (14:47) Delineation Monitoring 07 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-2 image 2.0 m / 81260.7 ha burned.

02/09 (23:37) Delineation Monitoring 08 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a SPOT6 image 1.5 m / 93511.0 ha burned.

03/09 (20:10) Delineation Monitoring 09 Product - Delivery

Analysis of a WorldView-2 image 2.0 m / 93880.8 ha burned.

08/09 - Activation closure

The AU informed Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping service that no further monitoring was needed as the fire was completely extinguished. No additional products planned - Summary of delivered products: 1 FEP, 10 DEL