Thousands Evacuated as Wildfire Rages Near Greek Capital

Thousands of residents in and around Athens were forced to abandon their homes on Monday as a massive wildfire approached the Greek capital. This was particularly true in the historic town of Marathon, prompting officials to describe the fire’s impact as catastrophic.

Emergency orders were issued for at least five additional communities and two hospitals northeast of Athens to evacuate. This was on the heels of evacuations in eight nearby villages, including Marathon, which took place on Sunday.

Mayor Stergios Tsirkas of Marathon characterized the situation as a “biblical catastrophe.” Reports indicated a wall of flames extending 20 miles, with heights exceeding 80 feet, edging dangerously close to Athens.

The thick scent of smoke enveloped central Athens, with dark clouds hovering over Mount Pentelicus—a mountain known for supplying the marble used in the Acropolis. The fire has reportedly spread quickly, and authorities have taken the precaution of opening the Olympic stadium in northern Athens to shelter evacuees.

According to fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, despite the valiant efforts of civil protection forces working throughout the night, the fire escalated rapidly. He noted, “At this moment it has reached Mount Pentelicus and is headed in the direction of Penteli.”

In response to the unfolding crisis, eight individuals were hospitalized due to respiratory issues linked to the smoke, prompting evacuation measures at a children’s hospital and a military medical facility in Penteli early in the morning.

The current fires have evoked painful memories of the Mati disaster in July 2018, where 104 lives were lost due to similar circumstances exacerbated by evacuation delays and mismanagement. The summer wildfire season in Greece has seen an alarming number of fires this year, coinciding with the nation experiencing its warmest winter and hottest June and July on record since reliable data collection began in 1960.

Temperatures in Athens were forecasted to soar to 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, with wind gusts reaching up to 31 miles per hour. These harsh weather conditions have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, with more than 670 firefighters deployed, supported by 183 vehicles and 32 aircraft dedicated to combating the inferno.

Authorities communicated to residents through SMS alerts advising them to follow evacuation routes. Residents of Marathon, which has a population of around 7,000, were directed to flee towards the coastal town of Nea Makri.

Mayor Tsirkas expressed deep concerns as he relayed, “Our whole town is engulfed in flames and going through difficult times.”

Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias highlighted that half of Greece was under a heightened risk for wildfires, a warning he issued on Saturday due to extreme temperatures, high winds, and ongoing drought conditions. Despite the rapid deployment of water-bombing aircraft, fires were reported to have spread swiftly, particularly one that ignited near the town of Varnavas.

Firefighter Marinos Peristeropoulos remarked, “We’re working 24-hour shifts, all of us,” and emphasized the role of strong winds in exacerbating the fire spread, which he witnessed first-hand near the hotspots in Grammatiko.

Experts have increasingly warned that climate change, driven by human activities such as fossil fuel emissions, is sharply intensifying the frequency and severity of heatwaves globally. Rising temperatures are contributing to longer wildfire seasons and increased areas devastated by flames, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Other regions in Europe are also grappling with extreme temperatures this week. In Rome, predictions indicated temperatures could reach 38 degrees Celsius, settling to around 36 degrees for the week. In the southern Netherlands, the mercury was expected to hover between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius, aggravated by high humidity levels.

As the situation develops, the residents of Greece are bracing for what could be a prolonged battle against the wildfires, underscoring the urgent need for continued support and resources to combat these natural disasters.

Source: CBS News