Greece battles wildfires, hundreds evacuated near Athens

Greece is grappling with a series of wildfires that have led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Experts predict more extreme weather conditions in the coming week. On Sunday night, firefighters were tackling a “dangerous” blaze near Athens, with smoke enveloping parts of the city.

By the afternoon, firefighters had managed to control 33 out of 40 fires that had ignited in the past 24 hours, according to fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis. However, seven more fires were still burning amid the intense Mediterranean summer heat.

The civil protection minister had earlier warned that half the country faced a high-risk situation for fires due to high temperatures, strong winds, and drought. In East Attica, an uncontrollable fire in the Varnavas area, which spread to a pine forest and nearby houses, emitted so much smoke that it turned Athens’ sky red. Hundreds were evacuated from at least eight villages, with some residents trying to save their homes by battling the flames themselves.

Vathrakogiannis noted the danger of the situation, as the fire continued to rage in residential areas, causing damage. Strong winds were spreading the fire rapidly, creating new fronts behind containment lines.

Over 400 firefighters, supported by 110 vehicles and 29 firefighting aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to combat the flames, which in some cases reached heights of more than 25 metres. Firefighters and forest commandos were expected to continue their efforts throughout the night.

In the village of Metohi, not yet threatened by the fire, a resident named Eugenia expressed her fear of what the night might bring. She described the annual struggle of escaping from their homes due to fires.

The fire brigade spokesman highlighted that many civilians were rescued after initially refusing to evacuate. Giorgos Tsevas, from the village of Polydendri near the fire front, expressed his despair as he watched everything burn, including his 200 olive trees.

Another fire that erupted earlier on Sunday afternoon in Megara, West Attica, led to an evacuation alert and was partially contained after destroying several houses and vehicles. Forty-eight firefighters, 13 vehicles, and additional volunteers, along with aerial support, were on the ground.

In Thessaloniki, a fire in the Lagadas area was partially under control, with 20 firefighters, 10 vehicles, and one helicopter at the scene.

Temperatures in Greece are forecasted to peak at 39 degrees Celsius on Monday, with the highest temperatures in the west. Winds in some areas are expected to reach speeds of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour. Kostas Lagouvardos, director of research at the National Observatory of Athens, informed broadcaster ERT News that Sunday would be the most challenging day for firefighting efforts.

The Mediterranean country is particularly vulnerable to summer fires, with blazes occurring daily this season. Following the warmest winter on record, Greece also experienced its hottest June and July since 1960. It recorded its earliest heatwave in June.

Scientists warn that human-induced fossil fuel emissions are worsening the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves globally. Rising temperatures are leading to longer wildfire seasons and increasing the area affected by fires, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.