Greece urges evacuations in areas around Athens due to raging wildfires

International News 12-08-2024

A raging forest fire on the outskirts of Athens has prompted the evacuation of hospitals and homes as flames reaching 80 feet in height threaten the area. Hundreds of firefighters are engaged in a fierce battle against the blaze, which continues to spread closer to the Greek capital despite containment efforts.

On Monday, thousands of residents in the Athens vicinity were forced to flee their homes as the wildfire advanced. Greek authorities ordered the evacuation of at least five additional communities and two hospitals northeast of Athens after eight villages had already been evacuated over the weekend. Among those evacuated at dawn were a children’s hospital and a military medical facility in Penteli, along with residents of two monasteries and a children’s home.

The firefighting efforts include 670 firefighters supported by 27 specialized wildfire teams, over 80 military personnel, and more than 180 vehicles. Aerial support is being provided by 17 water-dropping planes and 15 helicopters. The ERT public broadcaster reported that the fire has created a 20-mile-long wall of flames, with some areas experiencing flames as high as 80 feet (25 meters).

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cut his holiday short and returned to Athens on Sunday evening to manage the crisis. The fire is primarily burning on two separate fronts, with some particularly challenging areas located on a mountain northeast of Athens, according to Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias.

Kikilias described the situation as an “exceptionally dangerous fire” that firefighters have been battling for over 20 hours under dire conditions. Due to the fire, Greece’s coast guard redirected all ferries from the nearby port of Rafina, which primarily serves the Cycladic islands and Crete, to the port of Lavrion.

In response to the crisis, nearby suburbs have opened sports halls and hotels to accommodate evacuees, with additional areas on standby for possible evacuation. Strong winds have exacerbated the situation, rapidly spreading the fire and sending a thick blanket of smoke over the center of Athens, darkening the sky.

Despite the tireless efforts of civil protection forces throughout the night, the fire has continued to spread rapidly, according to fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis. The flames have now reached Mount Pentelicus and are heading towards Penteli.

In the area of Dione, the fire destroyed cars and advanced toward apartment buildings. Some residents fled in their vehicles as the flames rapidly approached their homes. In Penteli, residents could only watch as strong summer winds pushed the fire toward their properties and up the slopes of Mount Pentelicus.

Meteorologists and government officials have warned of an increased risk of wildfires due to the weather conditions expected from Sunday to Thursday, with half of the country placed on “red alert” for wildfire hazards.