Athens. Greece’s worst wildfire of the year raged through the Athens suburbs on Monday, forcing hundreds of people to flee as it burned trees, homes and cars overnight and filled busy roads with smoke and ash.
The government has asked other European Union countries for help in fighting the blaze, which is burning out of control for a second day, fanned by strong winds pushing it down from the forested hills north of the city.
Firefighters said the flames, which are threatening apartment blocks, schools and shops, had reached their deepest level in the capital in more than two decades.
More than 700 firefighters supported by volunteers, 199 trucks and 35 water-dropping aircraft have been battling the blaze, which broke out at 3 p.m. on Sunday near the town of Varnavas, 35 kilometers north of Athens.
Greece has activated the European civil protection mechanism and is expecting assistance from France, Italy and the Czech Republic with aircraft and firefighters. Spain and Turkey have also offered help.
“The situation remains extremely difficult,” said Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, spokesman for the fire brigade. “There are ongoing outbreaks, which are constantly creating new hotspots and spreading rapidly, aided by very strong winds.”
Summers in Greece have long been marked by wildfires, but hotter, drier weather linked to climate change has made blazes more frequent and intense. Flames fuelled by extreme heat have also wreaked havoc in parts of Spain and the Balkans.
Plumes of smoke rose from the horizon and a burning smell filled Athens. The fire reached Vrilissia, about 14 kilometres from the heart of the capital, although motorways separate the suburb from the city centre.
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– 2024-08-21 06:50:07
