Greek authorities order evacuation near Athens amid raging wildfires
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An extreme wildfire has been burning for over 20 hours under 'dramatic conditions,' intensified by strong winds, prolonged drought, and impenetrable terrain
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Emergency service personnel work to rescue people during wildfires in Varnavas, north of Athens, August 11, 2024. (AFP)
Greek authorities have urged residents residing near Athens to promptly evacuate their homes due to the ongoing fast-spreading wildfire.
Around 670 firefighters and 32 water-bombing aerial units were deployed on Sunday near the town of Varnavas to extinguish the raging wildfire blazing since Sunday, Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias reported.
The minister stated that the deployed emergency crews have been attempting to contain "an extremely dangerous fire" for over 20 hours, intensified by "dramatic conditions," including strong winds, prolonged drought, and impenetrable terrain in deep, unburnt forests.
Although Kikilias assured that conditions have improved in a few areas, fire authorities warned on Monday that the fire may "develop rapidly" and head towards Penteli, a town located 16 kilometers northeast of the nation's capital.
Officials have not revealed how big the wildfire is, but Greek public broadcaster ERT estimates it stretches over 30 kilometers.
'Extremely high and dangerous weather conditions'
The minister warned that "extremely high and dangerous weather conditions" would continue until Thursday.
“Winds overnight remained strong creating dangerous conditions," fire service spokesman Vasilios Vathrakoyiannis said, adding "Unfortunately, their intensity is expected to increase in the next few hours and the citizens of the areas where the fire is developing should in any case follow the instructions of the authorities."
Two dozen children were evacuated from a children's hospital in Penteli, Health Minister Adonis Vathrakoyiannis reported, bringing the total number of evacuated hospitals to two with health centers placed on high alert.
Officials have also reported an unspecified number of homes damaged by the wildfire.
CNN reported that the recent rise in disappearances in Greece may be linked to extreme heat, with several tourists disappearing after going on walks and were later found dead in various locations across the country. Essentially, authorities have cautioned against underestimating the dangers of these intense temperatures.
Hot summer blaze
Greece has been experiencing unusually hot weather, with a heatwave occurring before June 15, the earliest on record, and temperatures surpassing 44°C (111°F) in some areas.
The country has become a tinderbox after an excessively mild winter. Recently, extreme weather conditions have sparked fires across the country.
The civil protection service called for extreme vigilance last month, because the risk of fires, often fanned by gale-force winds, was “very high”, particularly in the Attica region, the Peloponnese peninsula, and central Greece.
Hydra's mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, stated that the municipality would seek compensation once the judicial process had concluded if the accused, the 13 people arrested in connection with a forest fire that was ignited on the island of Hydra by fireworks launched from the boat they were sailing on, were found guilty.
“Depending on the outcome, our town hall will seek compensation,” he said. “What was destroyed was an absolutely beautiful pine forest and on the night in question, because of the winds, fireworks were banned. To use them was utterly irresponsible.”
Penalties for arson and ecological destruction have been toughened in Greece. The amended criminal code stipulates prison terms of up to 20 years and fines of up to €200,000 for those found guilty of such crimes.
According to reports on June 23, Greece suffered 66 wildfires within 24 hours on June 21 and 22, according to reports from the media.
