ATHENS: Greece confronted a challenging battle against multiple wildfires near the capital city of Athens on Sunday, marking what officials described as the most demanding day of the year so far in terms of firefighting efforts.
Amid scorching temperatures that soared to 44°C (111°F) following the country’s warmest winter on record and an early heatwave, firefighters scrambled to contain two major blazes in Attica, prompting evacuation orders for residents in eight affected areas.
In Keratea, located south of Athens, flames spread rapidly, consuming at least four houses and posing a significant threat due to persistent strong winds that fueled the fire’s intensity. A contingent of 140 firefighters, supported by forest commandos, deployed 39 vehicles, eight helicopters, and nine aircraft to combat the inferno.
“The situation is very difficult, as strong winds continue to blow, they have not subsided and the outbreaks are many,” remarked Dimitris Loukas, mayor of Lavreotiki, in comments to Athens News Agency. “We are fighting a great battle.”
Loukas emphasized the ongoing risk posed by the wind, which exacerbated the spread of fires across the region, although he assured that a nearby military air base was not currently endangered.
North of Athens, another blaze erupted in the suburb of Stamata, prompting urgent evacuation notifications to local residents. Vasileios Vathrakogiannis, spokesman for the fire brigade, described Sunday as “the most difficult day of the year so far for the Fire Brigade.”
Elsewhere, on the island of Evia near Ritsona, a fire ignited in an industrial zone, emitting thick black smoke as it engulfed a recycling factory and nearby flammable materials like tyres and mattresses. Firefighters battled to contain the blaze, which posed potential risks to other factories in the vicinity. Fortunately, a nearby refugee center was reported to be out of immediate danger.
On Serifos island, a separate large wildfire caused extensive damage as it spread rapidly across the southwestern part of the island before being brought under control early Sunday. The blaze affected residential homes, cottages, warehouses, and chapels, leaving destruction in its wake.
The Civil Protection Ministry’s Fire Danger Forecast Map for Sunday indicated a severe Category 4 fire risk across Attica, the Peloponnese, Crete, the North and South Aegean Regions, and central Greece.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the nation via his weekly Facebook post, urging Greeks to brace themselves for what is anticipated to be a challenging wildfire season ahead.
“The difficult times are still ahead of us. Our effort is continuous. In this effort, our allies are new tools that build a new culture of prevention and responsibility,” Mitsotakis stated.
