Greece : People flee escalating wildfire as it rages near the capital

ATHENS – Greek authorities issued an evacuation warning early Monday as a raging wildfire broke out in the capital’s suburbs, causing major damage to green areas and public possessions.

Today’s morning, the fire had spread southward and swept into several areas, including the village of Grammatiko, the ancient town of Marathon, the seaside municipality of Nea Makri, and Mount Penteli northern Athens.

Up to 500 firefighters were mobilised by 29 water-dropping planes and 152 vehicles to combat the fire that is raging out of control and reaching up to 25 meters high on the northern fringes of the Greek capital.

It began Sunday afternoon about 35 kilometres from Athens and was fuelled by strong wind and dry weather caused by intense summer heat waves, and decreased annual precipitation.

“Half of Greece will be in the red,” Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Saturday, as temperatures rose to 40 Celsius amid strong winds, and it will last until Thursday.

“During the night, the wind remained strong, creating dangerous situations,” said the fire department’s spokesman Col. Vassileios Vathrakogiannis. “Unfortunately, their intensity is expected to increase in the coming hours, and in any case, citizens of the areas where the fire is developing must follow the directions of authorities.”