A massive wildfire that began on August 11, approximately 35 kilometers north of Athens, Greece, continues to rage out of control, forcing widespread evacuations and posing a severe threat to the capital’s suburbs. The Greek Civil Protection has ordered the evacuation of over a dozen areas, including the historic city of Marathon and several Athens suburbs, as the fire rapidly approaches densely populated regions.As of August 12, more than 500 firefighters, supported by 152 vehicles and 29 aircraft, are 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 situation remains critical, with new evacuations being ordered as the fire approaches Athens. 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’. To accommodate the thousands displaced, authorities have opened the Olympic Stadium in northern Athens.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 also mounting, with eight people hospitalized for respiratory problems and two firefighters suffering minor injuries.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
- A massive wildfire near Athens has forced the evacuation of thousands, including residents of Marathon and several Athens suburbs.
- Over 500 firefighters, 152 vehicles, and 29 aircraft are battling the blaze in extreme weather conditions.
- New evacuations have been ordered in Halandri as the fire approaches Athens suburbs.
- The Olympic Stadium has been opened to accommodate thousands of displaced people.
- Greece is experiencing its hottest summer since 1960, with half the country at high risk of forest fires.
