LONDON — Hundreds of firefighters were battling fast-moving wildfires Monday near Athens amid scorching temperatures throughout Greece, emergency and weather officials said, as evacuations are underway in the region.
Government officials warned of a high fire hazard in several areas, including the Athens peninsula and the Boeotia region northwest of it.
This photograph shows the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in a smoke cloud from a wildfire, in Athens on August 12, 2024.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images
Both areas were among those where the risk category was raised to five, meaning there’s an extreme risk of fire, weather officials said in a statement released Sunday.
Dozens of blazes were burning Monday along the edges of a fire that broke out in Varnavas on Sunday afternoon, Col. Vassilios Vathrakogiannis, of the country’s fire service, said in a statement .
That fire had been buffeted by strong winds, he said, adding they were “making the work of civil protection forces on the ground extremely difficult.”
Women embrace after being rescued during a wildfire in Varnavas, north of Athens, on August 11, 2024.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images
More than 700 firefighters and nearly 200 vehicles were working with the Civil Protection agencies, he said. Eighteen helicopters and 17 other firefighting aircraft had been in use since the Varnavas blaze began spreading.
Two firefighters were injured, Vathrakogiannis said. One had minor burns and the other had respiratory issues, he said. Thirteen other people have been provided medical care for minor respiratory issues, he said.
Countries including France, Italy and the Czech Republic are sending assistance, including firefighters and vehicles, officials said.
A house burns during a wildfire in Varnavas, north of Athens, on August 11, 2024.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images
Officials have issued evacuation orders for several towns north and northwest of Athens, including New and Old Penteli, Patima Chalandriou, Patima Vrilission, Krasa Ano Vrilission, as well as from Dionysos and Marathon, Vathrakogiannis said.
More than 30,000 residents were ordered to evacuate from Marathon toward the neighboring beach town of Nea Makri, according to Reuters.
More than 250 people were evacuated with the help of police officers near Athens, the Greek Police said on social media. About 380 officers were working in the area, with dozens of vehicles and two-wheelers, police said.
A local gets into his car in front of the flames to evacuate during a wildfire in Dione, Greece, on Aug. 12, 2024.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images
Local emergency responders were notified they should be “on increased civil protection readiness in order to face any fire incidents immediately,” the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection said.
Temperatures near Athens were expected to climb on Monday to about 95 degrees Fahrenheit, before spiking to about 100 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Center.
ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.
Evacuations have been ordered as a wildfire near Athens continues to grow in scorching heat, threatening homes and forcing residents to flee for safety. The fire, which broke out on Monday in the town of Varympompi, has already burned through thousands of acres of land and shows no signs of slowing down.
The extreme heat and dry conditions in the area have made it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze, with strong winds fanning the flames and spreading them rapidly. As a result, authorities have issued evacuation orders for several nearby villages, urging residents to leave their homes and seek shelter in safer areas.
The Greek government has deployed helicopters and planes to help battle the fire from the air, while ground crews work tirelessly to extinguish the flames on the ground. However, the steep terrain and dense vegetation in the area have made it challenging for firefighters to access certain areas, allowing the fire to spread unchecked.
Local residents have been left devastated by the destruction caused by the wildfire, with many losing their homes and livelihoods in the blaze. The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has pledged government support for those affected by the fire, promising to provide assistance to help them rebuild and recover from the disaster.
As climate change continues to fuel more frequent and intense wildfires around the world, it is crucial for governments and communities to take proactive measures to prevent and mitigate the impact of these natural disasters. This includes investing in fire prevention strategies, improving emergency response capabilities, and raising awareness about the importance of protecting our environment.
In the meantime, residents near Athens are urged to stay vigilant and follow evacuation orders to ensure their safety in the face of this growing wildfire. Our thoughts are with those affected by the blaze, and we hope for a swift resolution to this devastating situation.
