A fast-moving wildfire in northern Greece has killed at least two people and forced the evacuation of a village near Thessaloniki, the country's second-largest city, as firefighting crews struggle to bring the blaze under control.

The fire broke out at around 14:30 local time on Tuesday in the area around Liti, a village roughly 15 kilometres north-west of Thessaloniki, and quickly spread into nearby forests. The body of a man was discovered in a charred area close to the village, while a second body — whose identity has not yet been confirmed — was found inside a house in a forested zone nearby. A woman rescued near the same house, believed to be the wife of the first victim, was taken to hospital with burn injuries and is reported to be in a stable condition. A 12-year-old child, thought to be the couple's son, remains missing.

More than 100 firefighters, supported by dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft, are working to contain the blaze. They face a wall of flame stretching approximately five kilometres and continuing to spread, driven by dry conditions and strong winds that have caused repeated flare-ups. The fire was advancing towards the nearby village of Melissochori on Tuesday evening, and a small number of properties have already been damaged. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The region had already been placed under a high wildfire risk warning before the blaze erupted, reflecting the dangerous combination of drought and wind that has become increasingly familiar across Greece during summer months. Wildfires are a recurring threat in the country, where hot, dry summers regularly create conditions for large and destructive blazes.

The incident is part of a broader pattern of early-season fires as Greece heads into its peak tourist period. The deaths near Thessaloniki serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of wildfires that, while common in the Mediterranean region, continue to overwhelm emergency services and endanger rural communities each year.