With the country grappling with extreme temperatures and fierce winds, emergency services are overwhelmed as wildfires spread across various regions, triggering evacuations and requests for EU assistance.
Fires Rage Across Greece as Residents Evacuate Near Athens
Fires Rage Across Greece as Residents Evacuate Near Athens
Greece is facing a series of devastating wildfires, with multiple evacuations as blazes threaten communities close to Athens.
Greece is in the grips of an unprecedented wildfire crisis, battling five significant blazes that have led to widespread evacuations particularly in areas close to Athens. The fires have intensified due to an ongoing heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 44°C. The situation escalated quickly in regions such as Attica, about 30 kilometers north of Athens, where flames have engulfed towns including Afidnes, Kryoneri, and Agios Stefanos. Officials reported that the fires have put human lives at risk and led to considerable property damage.
Greek authorities have sought help from the European Union, requesting additional firefighting aircraft. The Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis voiced concern over the day’s developments, stating, "We have injured firefighters, human lives were put at risk, properties have been burned, and forest areas have been destroyed." Currently, over 200 firefighters are on the front lines, supported by helicopters and water-bombing aircraft in an effort to control the raging flames.
In Evia, a separate fire near Pissona has reportedly spiraled out of control, threatening nearby villages and leaving many without electricity. Additional blazes are igniting in Kythira and Messinia, prompting more evacuations and emergency alerts issued via Greece's 112 emergency system. The destruction has been so extensive that the mayor of Dirfyon-Messapion described the damage as "incalculable".
Potential threats remain for other regions including the Ionian Islands, Western Greece, and Crete, as two recent wildfires on these islands have laid waste to thousands of hectares of agricultural land. In July, evacuations were necessary for 5,000 tourists from Crete due to similar circumstances, highlighting the ongoing peril posed by these seasonal wildfires.
