Greece reports lowest wildfire damage in Southern Europe for 2026

Greek Minister of State Akis Skertsos reported that Greece recorded the smallest burned area among five major Southern European countries during the 2026 wildfire season. According to Copernicus/EFFIS data as of September 9, 2026, Greece's burned area totaled 335,230 stremmata, which is 30.1% below its 20-year average.

In comparison, other Southern European nations saw significant increases or different trends: Spain recorded 2,965,020 stremmata (+246.6% above average), Italy 1,075,970 stremmata (+104.3%), France 969,310 stremmata (+599.5%), and Portugal 654,380 stremmata (-13.9%).

Skertsos noted that while the data shows increased resilience, there is no reason for celebration as the wildfire period is ongoing. He attributed the improved response to systematic investments in prevention and detection, specifically citing the approximately €2 billion ‘Aegis’ program, which utilizes satellite data, drones, modern aerial and ground resources, and specialized firefighter-foresters.