Fire spreads to Athens
Greece Experiences Hottest June and July on Record, Making It Extremely Vulnerable to Wildfires. Fires Around Athens Cannot Be Controlled, Multiple Towns Evacuated.
The Greek fire brigade has been unable to stop the large fire that has been raging since Sunday afternoon on the northern outskirts of Athens. Residents of twelve towns have been called upon via SMS to leave their homes in the region around Marathon and Penteli, a spokesperson for the fire brigade told Greek radio. "At dawn, we will deploy 29 firefighting aircraft and helicopters," he said. Penteli is about 15 kilometers, and Marathon about 30 kilometers north of the Greek capital. According to Greek media, numerous people have been taken to hospitals with respiratory problems, and two hospitals have also been evacuated, as announced by the government.
Due to the strong smoke, a thick gray-brown cloud hung over Athens for hours. The smoke plumes extended over more than 100 kilometers and reached the Peloponnese peninsula, as locals reported and could be seen on satellite images.
In the region around Athens and in large parts of Central Greece, the highest level of fire danger is currently in effect, according to the civil protection agency. The situation will remain extremely dangerous in the coming days, the civil protection agency announced. It has not rained properly in most regions of Greece for months.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis Cuts Short Vacation
For those fleeing the flames, the government has opened the facilities of the Olympic Stadium in northern Athens and other sports halls, according to authorities. Hotels also made rooms available, as reported by the hoteliers' association. Tourist facilities are not currently threatened, according to reports from the scene. Many residents reportedly stayed in their homes and fought the flames with garden hoses.
Due to the dramatic developments, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cut short his vacation and returned to Athens, as announced by a government spokesperson. Numerous fire units from southern and western Greece arrived in Athens during the night, according to media reports.
Meteorologists and civil protection had warned repeatedly in recent days: Due to the extreme drought and strong winds currently blowing around the Aegean, any small fire could spread to a large fire within minutes.
The Commission has deemed the current wildfire situation in Greece as a serious national emergency, urging immediate assistance and resources from EU members. Despite the efforts of the Greek fire brigade and additional firefighting units from other regions, the fires in and around Athens continue to spread rapidly.
