In the outskirts of Athens, Greece, a significant forest fire is raging uncontrollably, with more than two dozen water-dropping planes and hundreds of firefighters working tirelessly to contain the blaze. Authorities have evacuated a children’s hospital and a military hospital, and residents in over a dozen areas, including Marathon and several suburbs, have been ordered to leave their homes. Reports indicate that two firefighters sustained minor injuries, while several civilians were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
The fire, which started about 35 kilometers away from Athens on Sunday afternoon, has been fueled by strong winds and dry conditions following a series of heatwaves during the summer and a particularly dry winter. June and July of this year marked the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, with the country also experiencing its warmest winter.
Meteorologists and government officials have warned of increased wildfire risks due to the prevailing weather conditions from Sunday to Thursday. Half of the country is on high alert for wildfires, according to Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias. Over 500 firefighters, including specialized wildfire teams, supported by numerous vehicles, volunteers, and 29 water-dropping aircraft, are battling the flames. At times, the fire has reached heights exceeding 25 meters.
The fire department is urging residents to comply with evacuation orders for their safety, emphasizing that individuals who have ignored evacuation notices have subsequently required rescue, jeopardizing both their lives and those of firefighters. Col. Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, the fire department’s spokesperson, highlighted the dangerous situations caused by strong nighttime winds and cautioned that conditions are expected to worsen in the coming hours.
While Greece frequently faces wildfires in its hot summers, authorities attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of fires to climate change. Tragic incidents in recent years, such as the 2018 fire in Mati that claimed over 100 lives and the wildfires in northeastern Greece last year that killed more than 20 people, including 18 migrants, underscore the devastating impact of these natural disasters.
