Major Forest Fire in Greece Impacts Submarine Cable Infrastructure Near Athens
What Happened
On August 1, 2026 at 10:00 local time in Greece, a major forest fire began in the Green Forest area. The fire has affected a large area and is still spreading as of publication. The nearest significant node of submarine cable infrastructure is located in Athens, approximately 50 km from the fire zone. The impact of the fire on telecommunications infrastructure has already been recorded.
Cables in Zone
Within a radius of 500 km from the fire, several submarine cables are located. Among them is India Europe Xpress (IEX), commissioned in 2026, with its nearest landing point in Tympaki, Greece (372.1 km from the fire). Also within the zone are Italy-Albania (RFS 1997, Durres, Albania, 474.1 km), Trans Adriatic Express (TAE, RFS 2023, San Foca, Italy, 475.5 km), and several others, including MedNautilus Submarine System and Medusa Submarine Cable System, connected in Athens, all within 52.3 km from the fire zone.
What Our Measurements Show
Our monitoring systems have detected anomalies on three cables. On IEX, the RTT increased from 117.1 ms to 149.9 ms, a rise of 32.8 ms (9.1σ above baseline). On Italy-Albania, RTT rose from 49.5 ms to 127.1 ms (+77.6 ms, 101.8σ). On TAE, the delay increased from 59.6 ms to 113.3 ms (+53.7 ms, 13.5σ). These changes indicate possible impact of fire on terrestrial segments or auxiliary cable infrastructure.
Context and Risks
Undersea cables such as IEX, Italy-Albania, and TAE play a crucial role in providing internet connectivity between Europe, Asia, and Africa. An increase in RTT may indicate damage to terrestrial infrastructure, leading to deterioration of service quality in the region. Cables with exits in Athens are particularly vulnerable as they are close to the fire zone. In case of further deterioration, there could be disruptions in data transmission between continents.
Further Monitoring
We will continue to closely monitor the condition of submarine cables in the fire zone. Special attention will be given to cables with recorded RTT anomalies: IEX, Italy-Albania, and TAE. We will also keep an eye on the infrastructure in Athens, where several key systems converge, including MedNautilus, Medusa, and Thetis Express. In case of worsening conditions, we will promptly update the data and provide recommendations to minimize the impact.
