Thousands evacuated as Spanish wildfires rage in 45C heat
A 35-year-old volunteer firefighter also died, making him the sixth wildfire fatality in Spain this year, as thousands were evacuated across the region.
The widespread blazes, which have destroyed homes and factories, are exacerbated by a prolonged heatwave, strong winds, and suspected arson.
Greece has seen a cement factory engulfed and evacuations on tourist islands, while Albania is experiencing a "critical week" with 24 active wildfires.
Authorities are battling the infernos amidst extreme fire risk warnings, with Spain enduring its tenth day of temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius.
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The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
Overcrowding, earthquakes and extreme heat: The Greek holiday could be changing forever
When Icarus made his escape from the island of Crete with wings made of feathers and wax, he ignored the warning not to fly too close to the sun. Overcome by the thrill of flight, he soared too high, the heat melted the wax, and he fell into the sea and drowned. Icarus's story is a cautionary tale on the dangers of overambition. It also serves as an effective metaphor for the crossroads Greece 's tourism industry finds itself at today. Tourism has long been one of Greece's economic pillars, contributing €21.7bn to the economy in 2024 alone. But after decades of growth, cracks are beginning to show. The country is grappling with overtourism, infrastructure strain, housing shortages, and the escalating impact of the climate crisis – all of which threaten to upend the very charm that draws millions of visitors each year. Last summer, Greece's ombudsman issued a report calling for urgent reform to address these issues. 'Our country's economy relies heavily on tourism, which makes the need to manage it in a sustainable way even more urgent,' the report said. It warned that Greece must not 'exhaust its potential, wasting it and making our tourist destinations unattractive over time'. Santorini's slowdown One of the most iconic victims of this pressure is Santorini. The Cycladic island, famous for its sunsets, whitewashed buildings, and volcanic beaches, has seen a drop in visitor numbers this summer. Airport data from January to May shows arrivals decreased by 24.4 per cent annually, according to reports – a notable shift for an island that has hosted more than 5.5 million annual visitors despite having just 15,550 residents. 'In Santorini, even tourists complain about the great number of tourists,' a 2024 report said. Cruise tourism, although recently capped at 8,000 visitors per day, has brought up to 18,000 passengers to Santorini daily during peak season, straining the island's resources. Rapid growth has led to overcrowding, congestion, and environmental damage, all of which have been noticed by prospective visitors. A widely reported swarm of 1,200 earthquakes between 25 January and 7 February this year also did little to help. While the mass anti-tourist protests seen in Barcelona and elsewhere in Europe have yet to erupt in Greece, frustration is mounting. In Athens, locals are increasingly concerned about the proliferation of Airbnbs and the hollowing out of community life, claiming central neighbourhoods are becoming a 'tourism Disneyland'. Paradise Iost As visitor numbers fall in Santorini, other islands are seeing a surge, forcing local governments to effectively 'spin plates' with tourism management – not ideal for a country more famous for smashing them. Dimitri Vayanos, a professor of finance and member of Greece's influential Pissarides Committee on economic growth, is watching closely from the island of Ios, where he has been involved in local efforts to combat overdevelopment. 'There's been little change since the ombudsman's report,' he says. 'It's more of the same.' Vayanos believes many smaller islands are now repeating the mistakes of Mykonos and Santorini: 'They're being overbuilt, with little concern for protecting their character.' He adds that authenticity, agriculture and local products are at the heart of Greece's tourism product. 'But tourism is draining the resources that sustain them.' Water shortages, exacerbated by climate change, are also a major problem. 'Even where water is scarce, people are building big developments with pools,' he adds. Though Vayanos sees potential for growth in underdeveloped areas, he fears Greece is playing a dangerous game of tourism 'whack-a-mole'. Where one island declines, another rises and sees similar issues. The tide turns Ferry companies are already reporting shifting travel patterns. According to Ferryhopper, routes once centred on Santorini are seeing reduced interest, replaced by island hopping between Ios, Milos and Mykonos. Rival site Ferryscanner reported a 50 per cent drop in bookings to Santorini by American tourists and a 33 per cent drop to Mykonos. In contrast, it claims lesser-known destinations like Aegina and Poros have seen surges of more than fourfold. British tourists are also breaking away from traditional destinations. Lefkada, Sougia, Fournoi and Kastellorizo have all seen interest soar by more than 200 per cent, with Lefkada recording a 1,167 per cent spike in ferry bookings compared to 2024, according to the Ferryscanner data. The Greek National Tourism Organisation welcomes the shift, adding that any drop in Santorini does not reflect waning interest in Greece overall and that the country is encouraging a more diverse spread of destinations. 'This tourism season, Greece is experiencing an overall increase in visitor numbers compared to last year, in general and from the British market specifically, reaffirming its strong position as one of the world's leading destinations,' says Eleni Skarveli, Greece's national tourism director for the UK and Ireland. The tourism board also claim a surge in interest for smaller, lesser-known islands like Naxos, Tinos, Kythnos, Kea, Sifnos, or Kythira. The Greek government has said it is taking steps to future-proof its tourism model. Eleni reports an ambitious €322m (£277m) strategy. The plan includes €160m (£137m) to upgrade tourist ports and €56m (£48m) for developing mountain and winter tourism, including ski resorts. Overcrowded islands On Zante, the alarm bells rang earlier this year when a report by Which? Travel, based on EU data, named the Ionian island Europe's most overcrowded resort. With only 40,000 residents, it recorded six million overnight stays in 2023 – 150 per resident. Locals report roads, sewage systems, and other infrastructure buckling under the pressure. But Bluebell Tuck, a British expat who has lived in Zante for 30 years and owns O'Callaghans Loft bar in Laganas, claims that any suggestion of overtourism hasn't caused friction with the locals: 'They welcome it with open arms, they know that tourism is our industry. We all know there's no way the island can survive on olive oil and farming alone.' She claims Zante is set to be as busy as ever this summer, but the rise in all-inclusive hotels sees less money distributed across the island's other businesses. Despite the continued flow of tourists, she says that those who rely on tourism in Zante are not complacent and have seen cautionary tales from elsewhere in Greece, comparing it to Kavos in Corfu and Faliraki in Rhodes, both of which have seen a reported drop in British tourists in recent years. She says that her bar's DJ has recently left Cavos after 10 years, describing it as 'dead'. Though Tuck believes Zante still has a future – thanks in part to constant reinvestment by local businesses – she, like many others, is critical of a lack of government investment: 'Here people are building really beautiful beach bar venues, they are investing in boats for tourists to rent out, we have nice restaurants and beautiful shops. We are actually investing our money back into the island. The problem is the government doesn't.' She points to issues with waste collection as an example of a lack of investment. Water scarcity is also a long-standing concern. In Zante, many businesses now rely on privately purchased water to keep running, and on nearby Lefkada, residents faced water outages for much of this summer. Wildfires and the climate crisis Earlier this summer, the Acropolis – the nation's ancient iconic attraction – was forced to shut its gates to visitors as temperatures in Athens soared above 40C. Meanwhile, firefighters again battled devastating wildfires across Greece, with Zante burning for much of August. As the Acropolis bakes under the relentless sun, it stands as a stark reminder that even the strongest monuments are vulnerable. Greece's tourism sector, for all its might, is no different. A study by the National Observatory of Athens suggests that the country could see 15 to 20 more 'extreme heat days' per year by 2050. Hotels and resorts are scrambling to respond. Some are redesigning their outdoor spaces to include shaded areas, misting systems, and heat-resistant landscaping. Greek Tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni recently announced plans to promote 'climate-resilient tourism'. The Greek National Tourism Organisation has worked hard to promote the country as a year-round destination, urging travellers to visit in spring or autumn to relieve the peak summer strain. Yet many argue these measures fall short and, without coordinated reforms, fear the country risks repeating Icarus's fatal error: 'Mykonos and Santorini have already been overbuilt. It's irreversible.' Dimitri warns, adding that unless Greece rethinks tourism from the ground up – balancing economic benefits with sustainability – the country could risk losing what makes it special in the first place.
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chris Hemsworth shows off his ripped physique during intense workout after celebrating his birthday in Ibiza without wife Elsa Pataky
is back to focusing on his fitness after his star-studded birthday bash in Ibiza. The Aussie actor, who rang in his 42nd birthday last week on a yacht off the popular Spanish Island, took to Instagram on Sunday to show off his boxing skills. In the clip, Chris' huge muscles and strong build were on display while wearing an all-black ensemble during the workout. The video showed the Thor star being coached by fellow Aussie personal trainer Luke Zocchi, who is also an ambassador for Chris' fitness program Centr. 'Pick on someone your own size @zocobodypro,' he captioned the post. The pair exchanged some banter and laughs as they went at it in the ring, with Chris clearly in his happy place as he showed off his strength. It comes after Chris celebrated his birthday in Spain surrounded by a slew of big-named friends last week. The actor appeared to be having the time of his life as he enjoyed a lunch at celebrity hotspot Casa Jondal and a cruise on a luxury boat with a star-studded guest list, including brothers Liam and Luke Hemsworth, Matt Damon, pop sensation Rita Ora and her husband, director Taika Waititi, and Patrick and Pia Whitesell. But there was one very important person who was missing from the celebrations - his wife Elsa Pataky. She stayed on the other side of the world in Australia, and was last seen shopping for groceries at a local Coles supermarket in Byron Bay after returning home from her native Spain. The mother-of-three, 49, looked somewhat downcast while running her errands as she ferried a box of goods from the shops to her car and took what appeared to be a tense phone call. She was makeup-free for the short trip and dressed down in a jumper and baggy jeans. Although Elsa did not accompany her husband at the celebration, she did share a sweet birthday tribute to him on social media. Alongside a throwback photo of her embracing Chris, Elsa wrote some heartfelt words: 'Happy Birthday to my Rocky Balboa. You're the best of the best.' Chris and Elsa spent most of the European summer apart. Elsa was in her native Spain for weeks, filming her new TV series, Matices. Meanwhile, Chris was travelling, even attending the final day of Wimbledon without his wife . Chris also enjoyed a beachside escape in Hossegor, France, with his longtime personal trainer and best mate Luke, while Elsa enjoyed her own holiday in her native Spain. They later reunited in July for the Thor star's new National Geographic series, Limitless: Live Better Now, with twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, 11, and Chris' brother Liam Hemsworth in London. The couple tied the knot during the Christmas holidays in 2010. The Hemsworths have made Byron Bay their home in recent years, after relocating from Los Angeles to Australia nine years ago.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Bikini-clad Amanda Holden, 54, flashes her abs alongside BGT co-star Alesha Dixon, 46, during lavish Corfu holiday with their children
Britain's Got Talent judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon are currently enjoying a lavish holiday in Corfu together with their children. The two beloved BGT stars are lapping up the sun on the Greek island during the school holidays. Amanda, 54, stripped down to a tiny white bikini and flashed her abs as she topped up her tan in the basking heat. She posed in the skimpy two-piece which she paired with oversized sunglasses and a stylish black and white bandana. Other photos showed her cosying up to her co-star Alesha, 46, whilst the pair kicked back on a boat. The pair appeared in a playful mood as they danced together on the boat ride while enjoying some quality time away from filming. She captioned her picture: 'Loved having this one and her beautiful family with me and the girls for a few days of sunshine in Corfu.' Amanda appears to be ageing backwards as she recently shared the snaps with her teenage daughters on the stunning island to Instagram. In one snap, Amanda posed up a storm with Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, on a rock with the picturesque blue ocean during golden hour in the background. Boasting big smiles, she penned to fans: 'And then there were 3 … just for a day or so ♥️♥️.' Amanda wore a white sheer summer dress that featured a plunging neckline, while Hollie posed in a minidress and Lexi donned a two-piece matching set. In another shot, the blonde beauty posed in a line with her daughters at the luxury hotel they've been enjoying their stay at. Lexi has been signed to Storm Model Management since she was 16 and is no stranger to the camera. The teen is attempting to follow her famous mum into the showbiz world. Boasting big smiles in the sweet capture, Amanda penned to fans: 'And then there were 3 … just for a day or so ♥️♥️' She even made her catwalk debut at London Fashion Week in last year - walking for Tran Hung's show. Amanda previously publicly teased Lexi as she packed on the PDA with her boyfriend as they kissed. She reposted the snap to her followers, joking: 'Mmm I wonder what daddy will think... [laughing face emoji].' Meanwhile, last week Amanda showed off her incredible figure as she stripped down to a white two-piece bikini during a boat day on her holiday. She showed off her trim frame in the skimpy two piece, which featured a triangle style top with matching bottoms. Amanda, who accessorised the look with a paisley print bandana and a pair of black wayfarer style shades, looked completely relaxed during her sunbathing session. The star also shared a sweet capture of her youthful-looking husband Chris Hughes on the trip. She posed with her long-haired other half, 51, to whom she has been married since 2008 after meeting in 2003. Alongside the Instagram post, Amanda shared the sweet caption: 'To the moon and back….8:8', with a heart and moon emoji attached. Amanda looked sensational in a black chiffon dress with a tie neck and plunging neckline as she beamed with her husband's arms wrapped around her hips. And music producer Chris proved his wife is not the only ageless one as he showcased his jet black locks and extremely smooth complexion.
