Evacuations Ordered As 'Exceptionally Dangerous' Wildfire Rages Near Athens, Greece

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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Hundreds of firefighters backed by much than 30 water-dropping planes were battling a awesome wood occurrence raging retired of power Monday connected nan bluish fringes of nan Greek capital. Hospitals and residential suburbs were evacuated.

Fanned by beardown winds, nan blaze that began Sunday day was racing done conifer forests near tinder-dry by repeated power waves this summer, coming connected nan heels of a peculiarly barren winter. June and July of this twelvemonth were nan hottest months ever recorded successful Greece, which besides recorded its warmest wintertime ever.

By mid-morning, nan occurrence was burning chiefly connected 2 abstracted fronts, pinch immoderate parts successful peculiarly difficult to scope areas connected a upland northeast of Athens, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said.

Authorities were faced pinch “an exceptionally vulnerable fire, which we person been fighting for much than 20 hours nether melodramatic circumstances,” Kikilias said. Conditions were exacerbated by nan very beardown winds.

The occurrence section said 670 firefighters, backed by 27 teams specially trained to tackle wildfires and including much than 80 members of nan equipped forces, were battling nan flames. More than 180 vehicles were deployed, while much than 30 water-dropping planes and helicopters were providing aerial support.

A children’s hospital, a subject hospital, 2 monasteries and a children’s location were evacuated early Monday, while removal orders were issued for much than a twelve areas, including Marathon and respective Athens suburbs. Three Athens hospitals were put connected heightened alert to dainty immoderate imaginable injuries.

Local media reported 2 firefighters were somewhat injured, while respective civilians were treated successful hospitals for fume inhalation.

Authorities successful adjacent suburbs opened astatine slightest 1 sports hallway and were providing rooms successful hotels for evacuees, while yet much suburbs were put connected standby for imaginable evacuation.

The constabulary section said 380 constabulary officers pinch 77 vehicles, 36 motorcycles, 3 buses and 4 vans were assisting successful nan evacuations, and by mid-morning had helped move much than 250 group distant from nan way of nan flames. It posted a video connected its societal media channels showing constabulary officers carrying aged group successful their arms retired of houses and to waiting vehicles, against a backdrop of a nighttime entity turned reddish from nan flames and smoke.

A man evacuates his location during a wildfire successful Dione adjacent Athens, Greece, connected Aug. 12, 2024. A awesome occurrence that collapsed retired Sunday successful nan northeastern municipality of Varnavas successful Greece's Attica region continues to rage, forcing residents of astir 10 villages to evacuate successful nan very early hours of Monday aft galore homes were damaged, section media reported.
A man evacuates his location during a wildfire successful Dione adjacent Athens, Greece, connected Aug. 12, 2024. A awesome occurrence that collapsed retired Sunday successful nan northeastern municipality of Varnavas successful Greece's Attica region continues to rage, forcing residents of astir 10 villages to evacuate successful nan very early hours of Monday aft galore homes were damaged, section media reported.

Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images

The occurrence sent a broad of fume complete nan halfway of nan Greek capital, darkening nan sky. It began Sunday day astir 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Athens and was fanned by beardown winds that quickly drove it retired of control. Authorities said flames astatine times towered much than 25 meters (80 feet) successful height.

Meteorologists and authorities officials person warned of nan heightened threat of wildfires because of upwind conditions from Sunday until Thursday, pinch half of nan state placed nether a “red alert” for wildfire hazard.

The occurrence section appealed to residents to travel removal orders issued by civilian protection, pinch authorities noting that immoderate group who had refused to time off their homes later became trapped and required rescuing, endangering nan lives of firefighters.

“During nan night, nan upwind remained strong, creating vulnerable situations,” said Col. Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, nan occurrence department’s spokesman. “Unfortunately their strength is expected to summation successful nan coming hours, and successful immoderate lawsuit citizens of nan areas wherever nan occurrence is processing must travel nan directions of authorities.”

Wildfires are predominant successful Greece during its hot, barren summers, but authorities person said ambiance alteration is fueling bigger and much predominant blazes. In 2018, a monolithic occurrence swept done nan seaside municipality of Mati, eastbound of Athens, trapping group successful their homes and connected roads arsenic they tried to fly successful their cars. More than 100 group died, including immoderate who drowned trying to aquatics distant from nan flames.

Last year, wildfires successful Greece killed much than 20 people, including 18 migrants who became trapped by nan flames arsenic they trekked done a wood successful northeastern Greece and were caught by a monolithic occurrence that burned for much than 2 weeks.

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