Forest fires are approaching Athens
In the morning, five towns near Athens and two hospitals in Penteli, about 15 kilometers northeast of the capital, had already been evacuated. Nine more locations were evacuated on Sunday, including the historic town of Marathon. The mayor of Marathon, Stergios Tsirkas, described the situation as a "catastrophic event of biblical proportions".
ERT, a television station, reported that a 30-kilometer-wide and up to 25-meter-high wall of fire was approaching Athens. Firefighters fought the flames throughout the night into Monday, but despite their heroic efforts, the fire spread rapidly, according to fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis. More than 670 firefighters are battling the blaze with 183 fire trucks, 32 aircraft, and helicopters.
Two firefighters were injured while fighting the fire. Thirteen people were hospitalized due to respiratory issues. Pregnant women and those with health conditions were advised to avoid outdoor activities.
The European Union expressed concern over the wildfires in Greece and pledged its support in any way necessary. The European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC) was activated to coordinate the European response.
