Major Wildfire Near Athens
Firefighters in Greece are engaged in a challenging battle to contain a rapidly spreading wildfire that erupted near Athens on Sunday. The blaze has already caused significant damage to buildings and generated towering flames that reach heights of over 80 feet, according to authorities.
The fire ignited in Varnava, a town located less than 30 miles north of the capital, Athens. It quickly escalated due to strong winds, as reported by Greece’s national fire service. In response to the escalating danger, evacuation orders were issued for residents in several surrounding communities.
As the evening progressed, the fire spread aggressively, in some instances threatening to engulf residential areas. Colonel Vassilios Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the fire service, indicated that the flames posed a risk to vital infrastructure, including Lake Marathon, which serves as a reservoir for Athens. The fire service has cautioned that strong winds will continue to exacerbate the situation.
Amidst the chaos, two women were seen embracing in Varnava after being rescued from the advancing flames. Credit: Angelos Tzortzinis/Agence France-Presse
This summer has been particularly arduous for Greece, marked by extreme heat and arid conditions. The national fire service has been actively combating wildfires across various regions of the country. Officials have warned that several areas, including Athens, are likely to experience an “extreme fire risk,” the highest category in Greece’s five-tier fire risk system, on Monday.
Colonel Vathrakogiannis disclosed that over the weekend, a staggering 40 wildfires broke out across Greece within a 24-hour span. Despite the overwhelming number, firefighters were able to bring 33 of those blazes under control promptly.
“Today has been a highly challenging day,” he remarked, underlining the intensity of the situation. The firefighting efforts in Varnava have mobilized an extensive response team, comprising:
- 400 firefighters
- A large contingent of volunteers
- Forest commando teams
- 16 aircraft
- 13 helicopters
While the exact size of the fire remains unclear, the unified efforts of these personnel highlight the urgency and seriousness of the ongoing crisis.
