Flash news from Greece
All the latest news from Greece, by Athens time. Updated all the time.
Monday 12 October
- Greece RescueWoman rescued alive after nearly 20 hours in the Mediterranean sea near Greece
A 44-year-old passenger went overboard from a cruise ship traveling from Mykonos to Naples.
- Athens UpdateAthens Schools Stay Closed for Online Learning Due to Gas Odour
Gkrava schools in Athens are closed until further notice.
Sunday 11 October
- Greece FireLesbos Fire: Fire Department Responding in Antissa
A fire broke out in the Antissa region on the Greek island of Lesbos.
Saturday 10 October
- Greece UpdateDecline in Greek Wildfires and Rapid Aid for Crete
A 25 percent decrease in overall fire incidents.
- Storm WarningOrange Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Greece - Epirus
An orange thunderstorm warning was issued for Greece - Epirus.
- Athens fireAthens fire: Blaze breaks out at two textile workshops in Aigaleo
A fire broke out overnight at two clothing and textile workshops in Aigaleo.
- Traffic UpdateAthens Metro Line 3: Evening Station Closures Announced
Stations between Ampelokipi and Chalandri close at 21:40.
Friday 9 October
- StormSevere weather in Greece: storms, cold and mountain snow
A double weather front is impacting various regions across Greece.
- Greece updates property transfer rules for tax debtors
New legislation introduces changes to property transfers for corporate tax debtors
- Thessaloniki: Metro suspended due to technical fault
The Thessaloniki metro was suspended in the afternoon due to a technical issue.
- Greece: European Commission approves energy escape clause
The European Commission approved the energy escape clause exclusively for Greece.
- Greece Ranks Among World's Top 10 Retirement Destinations in 2026 Index
Greece ranks 10th overall among 46 countries in the 2026 Global Retirement Index.
- Motor Oil refinery explosion: Two seriously injured in Greece
An explosion occurred at the Motor Oil refinery in Greece
- Real Estate DataAthens: Short-Term Rental Demand Outpaces Summer in September
Athens short-term rental demand exceeded summer levels in September.
- Greece Winter Time 2026: When Clocks Go Back in October
Greece switches to winter time on Sunday, 25 October 2026.
- Greece Real EstateGreece Establishes New Property Values Database
A new digital infrastructure is being created to monitor real estate values.
- Greece defenseGreece Secures Initial US Approval for Advanced F-35 and F-16 Weapons
Greece gained initial US approval for advanced arms on F-35s and F-16 Vipers.
- Athens Property Market: Analysis of Homes Around €800,000
Real estate data from Athens outlines property types available at various budget levels.
Thursday 8 October
- Colombia to move embassy to Jerusalem on Wednesday
Colombia will relocate its embassy to Jerusalem this Wednesday.
- Fire in GreeceForest fire breaks out in Thesprotia, Greece
A forest fire began in the Frosyni community around 8:00 PM.
- Fire in GreeceFire reported in the Deskati area of Grevena
A fire has broken out in Deskati, Grevena.
- Athens Mayor warns of tourism pressure and housing shortage
Visitor numbers in Athens are expected to reach 10 million in 2026.
- First Time GreeceMICHELIN Guide to Unveil 2027 Greece Selection on October 20
The 2027 MICHELIN selection for Greece will be announced on October 20.
- Major one billion euro investment project launched in northern Greece
A one-billion-euro investment plan reshapes northern Greece's tourism and real estate sectors.
- HistoryOperation Thunderbolt 1976: The Athens hijacking
An Air France flight was hijacked after departing Athens in 1976.
- RecordGreece Named Best Country in the World for Travel in 2026
Greece ranked as the top tourist country in the world for 2026 by Condé Nast Traveller.
- This weekend in Athens: 12 things to do, 9–11 October
12 events in Athens from Friday to Sunday.
- This week's cheapest flights to Greece: from €104 return
Cheapest this week: Athens, €104 return.
- Greece TourismSantorini and Mykonos Expand Tourism Experiences
A joint tourism forum takes place in Santorini and Mykonos.
Wednesday 7 October
- Travel WarningProtest Held Outside Israeli Embassy in Athens
A protest rally took place outside the Israeli embassy in Psychiko
- Transport UpdateAthens Metro Line 4: Kypseli Works Proceed as Planned
Reports regarding delayed metro works in Kypseli were officially denied.
- FireFire in Laconia: Aerial and Ground Forces Deployed
A fire broke out around noon in the Elaia area of Laconia.
- Fire in GreeceFire in Greece: Emergency crews battle blaze in Voskina Kynourias
A wildfire broke out in a rural-forested area in Voskina, Greece.
- Top Hotels in GreeceFour Grecotel Hotels Make Condé Nast Traveller’s Top 10 in Greece
Four Grecotel properties entered the top 10 list in Greece.
- Greece Announces New Housing and Relocation Grants
A 10,000 euro grant for citizens relocating permanently to designated border regions
- Traffic WarningAthens prepares for Rubio visit with road closures and metro changes
Key streets in central Athens will experience rolling closures.
- EarthquakeSeries of Earthquakes Near Kasos Island Reaches Magnitude 4.1
A series of eight earthquakes struck near Kasos island within a short timeframe.
- Tourism SupportAchaia Pass: New Tourism Support Program Approved
A tourism support program approved for Achaia
- Athens ConcertDeep Purple to Perform in Athens in October 2026
Deep Purple will play in Athens on October 13, 2026.
Tuesday 6 October
- Extreme WeatherCrete Storm Damage: Authorities Complete 137 Building Inspections
Engineers continue assessing damage across storm-hit areas in Crete.
- Jewish CommunityGreek Jewish Community Marks Three Years Since October 7
The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KISE) marks three years since the Hamas attacks.
- Travel WarningNational Security Council issues global alert for Israelis and Jews
Israel's NSC warns of a heightened global security threat targeting Israelis and Jews.
- Corfu: Historic Asani building in the old town leased for 30 years
The lease is for 30 years with an option for an additional 10-year extension.
- CultureDocumentary film by Israeli creators on Gaza screened in Athens
The documentary features accounts from former soldiers and intelligence officers.
- Greece RecordGreece Tourism Set for New Record in Revenue and Arrivals
Greek tourism is heading toward historic highs.
- Athens real estate: proposed property tax hike for non-EU buyers
Proposed tax changes would raise transfer taxes for non-EU buyers from 3% to 15%.
- Rental RecordGreece Short-Term Rental Guest Nights Up 8.3%
Guest nights in short-term rentals rose 8.3 percent in the second quarter.
- Passenger RightsEU Introduces New Rules on Air Passenger Rights and Compensation
The new regulation, (EU) 2026/2202, will officially apply starting from 23 October 2027 across the European Union.
- Greece Real Estate: Office Conversions and Airbnb Ban
Commercial spaces can be converted to residences without increasing building volume.
- Crete fertility clinic trial opens with dozens of defendants
The trial opened in mid-October at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania.
- Flights to GreeceGreece and Egypt Seek Stronger Tourism Cooperation and Air Links
Greek Tourism Minister met Egypt's new ambassador in Athens.
- Greek Coast Guard Reports Updates from Patmos and Rhodes
A maritime incident was recorded near the island of Patmos.
- Transport UpdateBlue Carrier 2 Moves to Eleusina Shipyards After Fire
The cargo vessel Blue Carrier 2 is on the move.
- Greece and Turkey Clash Over Cyprus-Crete Power Cable Surveys
Greece rejects seeking Turkish approval for maritime surveys
Monday 5 October
- Fire in GreeceWildfire in Corinthia: Firefighters Battle Blaze in Stimagka
A wildfire broke out in the Stimagka area of Corinthia.
- Security UpdateSecurity breach at Larnaca Airport on Tel Aviv flight
A female passenger bypassed all security and border checks at Larnaca Airport.
- Record in GreeceCorfu Tourism Boom: Surge in Flights and Israeli Visitors
A 7.5% increase in international commercial flights to Corfu in September.
- Traffic UpdateAthens Metro Line 1 Welcomes First Refurbished Train
The first refurbished train entered passenger service on Line 1 on October 7.
- Greek PolicyMitsotakis warns Turkey's participation in EU defence funds requires strict conditions
Mitsotakis set firm conditions for third-country participation in EU defence programmes.
- Greece wildfireMessinia: Aerial firefighting units tackle wildfire update in Militsa
A wildfire broke out in the Militsa area of Messinia.
- Greek EconomyGreece 2027 Budget Outlook: Fiscal Forecast and Economic Risks
The Fiscal Council endorsed the macroeconomic projections of the 2027 draft budget.