Firefighters in Greece are working diligently to contain the aftermath of a major wildfire that spread into the northern suburbs of Athens, leading to evacuations and causing one fatality. The fire department has reported that the fire no longer has active fronts but efforts are focused on extinguishing flames in various slow-burning spots as Tuesday started with diminished winds compared to the previous days
Efforts to combat the remaining fires are underway as authorities aim to tackle as much of the blaze as possible before a predicted increase in winds later in the day. International support in the form of water-dropping aircraft, firefighters, and vehicles has arrived from countries such as France, Italy, and Turkey, among others.
The fire began near Lake Marathon, around 35 kilometers northeast of Athens, then advanced over Mount Pendeli and descended into the northern and northeastern suburbs of the city. Tragically, a woman’s body was discovered in an industrial building in Vrilissia during the night, where she was believed to have been an employee trapped in an area under evacuation orders.
Multiple people received medical assistance, mostly for smoke inhalation, while five firefighters sustained minor burns and respiratory issues. The wildfire has led to evacuations of hospitals, monasteries, and homes, with cell phone alerts urging residents in various suburbs to flee the area.
Reports indicate that dozens of homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed by the flames, which were exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions following an exceptionally hot summer. Greece’s firefighting resources have been stretched thin due to the early onset of the fire season this year.
Authorities have pointed out that climate change is contributing to larger and more frequent wildfires in the region. Meteorologists have cautioned about heightened wildfire risks due to weather conditions extending from Sunday to Thursday. Despite the ongoing efforts to combat the fires, additional wildfires have erupted in various parts of Greece.
Tragically, wildfires have caused significant devastation in Greece in recent years, with a deadly fire in Mati in 2018 claiming over 100 lives and wildfires in 2019 resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people, including migrants trapped by flames while traveling through a forest in northeastern Greece.
