NewsWorldEuropeThe country’s worst wildfire this year continued to spread into the Athens suburbs on Monday evening after first igniting on Sunday afternoon
Wildfire rages near Athens
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emails
At least one person has died and thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters battle wildfires that have spread to the northern suburbs of Athens.
The massive, fast-moving blaze sent flames to heights of over 80ft as Greecesought assistance from other countries, activating Europe’s mutual civil protection mechanism.
The rapid spread of the fire has been helped by the hot, windy weather and burning pine cones falling from trees.
The fire began on Sunday afternoon about 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of Athens burning several homes and businesses and sending a blanket of smoke and ash over the city centre.
Greece’s National Observatory said satellite images showed the blaze had affected about 25,000 acres.
Evacuation orders were issued for suburbs in the Greek capital through Monday. The fire department found a body in a burnt building in the suburb of Vrilissia shortly after midnight.
Stergios Tsirkas, mayor of the historic Greek town of Marathon, warned they were facing a “biblical catastrophe”.
1723533237Pictured: Greece covered in blanket of smoke and ash
This Planet Labs handout satellite picture shows East Attica, Greece, during a wildfire (Planet Labs PBC/AFP via Getty Im)Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 08:13
1723532637At least 18 people were injured due to smoke inhalation A blanket of smoke and ash shrouded central Athens while power cuts hit parts of the Greek capital and affected traffic lights at major central junctions.
Authorities said at least 18 people were injured, mostly due to smoke inhalation as the blaze reached outlying sections of a suburb.
Athens hospitals continue to be on heightened alert as paramedics and ambulances treat five firefighters for light burns and breathing problems, and at least 13 civilians.
The Athens Medical Association warned those with chronic conditions, the elderly, pregnant women, children and those with respiratory and heart problems to be extra cautious.
Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 08:03
1723532033Pictured: Aftermath of devastating wildfire in the Penteli area near Athens
Burned houses are seen following a wildfire in the Penteli area near Athens, Greece (REUTERS)
Burned cars are pictured outside a damaged factory following a wildfire in the Penteli area near Athens, Greece (REUTERS)
Burned houses are seen following a wildfire in the Penteli area near Athens, Greece (REUTERS)Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:53
1723531856More than 700 firefighters and wildfire teams battle the flames More than 700 firefighters, backed by 27 special wildfire teams, and armed forces personnel were battling the flames overnight.
Around 190 vehicles, 17 water-dropping planes and 16 helicopters were also deployed to the affected areas.
The wildfire raced through pine forests left tinder-dry by repeated heat waves this summer.
June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, which also recorded its warmest winter ever. An early start of the fire season this year has strained Greece’s firefighting force
“Firefighters have been working at full tilt for months,” said Nikos Lavranos, head of Greece’s main firefighters’ union. “They are exhausted.”
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said earlier Monday it was “an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances.”
Some areas burning on Mount Pendeli were particularly hard to reach, he added.
Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:50
1723531570Woman’s body found inside burned-out Athens factory A woman’s body was found this morning inside a burned Athens factory.
The woman, who is believed to be around 60 years old, was found inside a building in Patima Halandriou, state news agency ANA reports.
The municipality, which just over 70,000 people, was forced to be evacuated on Monday following the disastrous blaze.
This is believed to be the first reported death from a wildfire that has torched the capital’s suburbs.
Thousands of residents were forces to flee their homes and the Greek government has appealed for international help.
A view of a damaged factory following a wildfire in the Penteli area near Athens, Greece (REUTERS)Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:46
1723531257Will British travellers make a shift to more northerly destinations?In the wake of the 2023 wildfires in Greece, our travel correspondent Simon Calder writes:
British travellers must reappraise their travel preferences. Extreme heat appears to be becoming a feature of some Mediterranean countries, especially in July and August.
Doing what we have always done, summer after summer, is not necessarily the correct answer.
If temperatures continue to rise, a more northerly destination will be more appropriate and less environmentally damaging. A wide range of holiday locations are unlikely to encounter extreme heat, for example:
British seaside resorts.Overseas nations close to the UK including Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands.The Baltic coast of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.Curiously, weather-informed choice already happens in the reverse direction. UK holidaymakers are famously responsive to wet British summers.
If it rains relentlessly from June to September, tour operators know to expect strong bookings for overseas holidays for the following summer.
Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:40
1723531094Foreign help rushed to Greece as wildfire forces evacuations in Athens Firefighters continue to battle against the wildfire in a town near the Greek capital after a fierce fire broke out on Sunday.
A 60-year-old woman was found dead inside a factory in Patima Halandriou.
The harrowing scenes never seen before in Athens have forced thousands to flee the capital’s suburbs.
Greece called the EU for assistance to assist hard-pressed firefighters. EU spokesman Balazs Ujvari said: “The EU civil protection mechanism was activated upon request of the Greek authorities.”
Countries including Italy, France, the Czech Republic and Romania have confirmed they are sending units to help.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said Paris is deploying 180 firefighters, 55 trucks and a helicopter to assist.
The Greek civil protection ministry also confirmed aid from Spain is also being “finalised” and Turkey announced it was sending two planes and a helicopter to help battle the fire.
Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:38
1723530653Ground report: Greek firefighters battle through the night as flames threaten AthensGreece’s worst wildfire this year continued to spread into the Athens suburbs on Monday evening after first igniting on Sunday afternoon, forcing hundreds of people to flee homes and hospitals.
Tourists on the hills around the Acropolis watched as smoke spread over the busy city.
A warning has been issued to anyone near affected areas to exercise caution when leaving the house due to the density of the smoke. Power cuts were reported in several parts of the capital, now thick with the smell of burning.
The fire was burning in a wide arc on the capital’s northeastern fringes, sending a blanket of smoke over central Athens on Sunday. There has been no disruption reported at Athens airports where those landing and taking off could see a wall of smoke darkening the sky on Monday morning.
Rich Booth reports from Athens.
Stuti Mishra13 August 2024 07:30
1723530106EU president Ursula Von der Leyen pays tribute to Greece Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:21
1723529789Pictured: Parthenon temple at the Acropolis engulfed in wildfire smoke
This photograph shows the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in a smoke cloud from a wildfire (AFP via Getty Images)
Volunteer stand in front of a small pocket of fire as wildfires burn near Penteli (AFP via Getty Images)
A volunteer stands in front of a small pocket of fire as wildfires burn near Penteli (AFP via Getty Images)Salma Ouaguira13 August 2024 07:16
