- Western Europe’s wildfire crisis has retreated, but gale-force winds are driving flames deeper into the Athens region, prompting evacuations.
- Greek authorities ordered the evacuation of three more communities in western Attica as flames advanced, threatening villages and an industrial district.
- Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft were deployed to combat the fires in Greece, but gale-force winds hampered firefighting efforts.
Wildfires in Greece have intensified due to gale-force winds, prompting authorities to evacuate three communities in western Attica, including Kandili, Agia Skepi, and Toutouli.123
Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft have been deployed, but the strong winds hinder firefighting efforts, making it difficult to collect water from the sea.
Smoke has risen over the mountains as evacuation orders were issued, with some residents evacuated by sea from coastal areas like Agios Vasileios and Porto Germeno.
Fire meteorologist Theodore Giannaros estimated that the blaze has affected 40 to 50 sq km (15 to 19 sq miles), although no official figures have been released yet.
Local farmer Minas Tzortzanis expressed the devastation, stating, “A pristine forest, a paradise, was surrendered to the hands of the fire. There are no words to explain what has happened. Destruction. Total destruction.”
In contrast, Western Europe’s wildfire crisis appears to be retreating, with major fires in Spain finally ceasing their advance. In France, the Gironde megafire remains contained but continues to burn, having scorched 420 sq km (162 sq miles) of forest in just 10 days. Human-caused climate change has been identified as a factor, doubling the likelihood of extreme fire conditions, according to scientists at World Weather Attribution.
“Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft are battling the blaze, though gale-force winds have at times prevented water-bombing aircraft from collecting seawater. A local farmer, Minas Tzortzanis, said “a pristine forest, a paradise, was surrendered to the hands of the fire” as authorities ordered evacuations of Kandili, Agia Skepi and Toutouli.”
The Guardian
