The massive wildfire that began on August 11 north of Athens, Greece, continues to rage out of control, forcing new evacuations as it approaches the city’s suburbs. The mayor of Halandri, a large municipality northeast of Athens, has ordered the evacuation of areas closest to the fire, stating that the flames are ‘really close’. This latest evacuation order adds to the growing list of areas affected, including the historic city of Marathon and several other Athens suburbs.The situation remains critical, with over 500 firefighters, supported by 152 vehicles and 29 aircraft, battling the blaze in what Greek Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vasileios Kikilias described as ‘dramatic conditions’. Despite these ‘superhuman efforts’, the fire continues to spread, fueled by strong winds exceeding 50 km/h and temperatures reaching 39°C.The wildfire has already had devastating impacts, destroying homes and olive groves. Nikos Anagnostou, an olive farmer, lamented, ‘The fire front is really huge and it’s currently uncontrollable. All the olives are burned and this year was a good year for olive oil’. Health concerns are mounting, with eight people hospitalized for respiratory problems and two firefighters suffering minor injuries.To accommodate the thousands displaced, authorities have opened the Olympic Stadium in northern Athens. The Greek government has also evacuated several hospitals, including a pediatric hospital and a military health facility in Penteli.As Greece faces its hottest June and July since 1960, the country remains on high alert. The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has issued a category five alert for extreme fire risk in several areas, including Attica, Central Greece, and the Peloponnese Region. With half the country in the ‘red zone’ due to strong winds and extreme drought, the situation is expected to remain dangerous in the coming days.
Key points
- New evacuations ordered in Halandri as wildfire approaches Athens suburbs.
- Over 500 firefighters battling the blaze in ‘dramatic conditions’ with strong winds and high temperatures.
- Olympic Stadium opened to accommodate thousands of displaced residents.
- Greece faces extreme fire risk with half the country in the ‘red zone’.
