ATHENS: A fierce wildfire erupted in the town of Koropi, approximately 30 kilometers south of Athens, on Wednesday, compelling residents to evacuate their homes and businesses as strong winds exacerbated the flames.
Firefighters and aircraft were deployed to combat the blaze, which prompted the suspension of traffic along a main highway linking Koropi to Athens suburbs. Local TV images depicted flames engulfing a storage facility, spreading into a boat dry dock, and racing across fields of dry grass and olive trees.
Despite the rapid spread of the fire, there have been no reports of deaths or injuries, according to a fire service official who spoke to Reuters. Civil protection authorities took swift action, evacuating two nearby villages as a precautionary measure.
The cause of the blaze remains undetermined at this time. However, the response has been substantial, with four firefighting planes, six helicopters, dozens of fire engines, and more than 50 firefighters dispatched to the scene.
The Athens region has experienced weeks of dry weather, leaving vast areas extremely vulnerable to fires. “I saved my home at the last moment. It all happened so fast,” a resident, whose face was blackened by smoke, told the local Skai TV channel.
Wildfires are a common occurrence in Greece, but their frequency and intensity have increased in recent years due to hotter and drier summers, which scientists attribute to climate change. The country faced significant devastation last year when forest fires forced 19,000 people to flee the island of Rhodes and resulted in the deaths of 20 individuals on the northern mainland.
