The massive wildfire that began on August 11 north of Athens, Greece, has escalated dramatically, now spreading over a 30-kilometer front and forcing the evacuation of at least 35,000 people from more than a dozen areas. The fire continues to rage out of control, threatening numerous suburbs and villages, including the historic town of Marathon and several Athens suburbs.Greek authorities have significantly ramped up their response, with over 700 firefighters, 200 fire trucks, 17 planes, and 15 water-dropping helicopters now battling the blaze. Despite these efforts, Greek Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vasileios Kikilias described the situation as ‘an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances’.The wildfire’s rapid spread is being fueled by strong winds, now reaching up to 70 km/h, and temperatures of 39°C. These conditions have made containment efforts extremely challenging. ‘The winds are very intense and are not helping us, neither the terrain morphology nor the vegetation, which are mainly pine and hawthorn trees that burn quickly,’ a fire department spokesperson explained.The fire has already caused significant damage, destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of several hospitals, including a children’s hospital and a military health facility. Health concerns are mounting, with 13 people hospitalized for respiratory problems and two firefighters suffering injuries.To accommodate the thousands displaced, authorities have opened shelters, including the Olympic Stadium in northern Athens. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has returned to Athens to oversee the emergency response.As Greece faces its hottest summer since 1960, the country remains on high alert. Kikilias warned that ‘half of Greece is in the red zone’ due to strong winds and extreme drought, indicating that the situation is expected to remain dangerous in the coming days. The cause of the fire remains unclear, but the extreme weather conditions have significantly increased the risk of rapid fire spread.
Key points
- The wildfire near Athens has forced the evacuation of at least 35,000 people and is spreading over a 30-kilometer front.
- Over 700 firefighters, 200 fire trucks, and multiple aircraft are battling the blaze in challenging conditions.
- Strong winds up to 70 km/h and high temperatures are fueling the fire’s rapid spread.
- The fire has caused significant damage, including destroyed homes and evacuated hospitals.
- Greece is facing its hottest summer since 1960, with half the country at high risk of wildfires.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported numbers of firefighters and equipment deployed, with some sources citing 560 firefighters while others mention over 700.
This could be due to ongoing reinforcements arriving at the scene.
