Greece yesterday ordered fresh evacuations near Athens as wildfires spread despite “superhuman” efforts to contain the flames, firefighters said.
At least five more communities were told to flee by civil protection authorities, after hundreds of people evacuated on Sunday from at least eight villages.
“Civil protection forces battled hard throughout the night, but despite superhuman efforts, the fire evolved rapidly,” fire brigade spokesman Vassilis said.
Photo: AFP
“At this moment it has reached Mount Pentelicus and is headed in the direction of Penteli,” he said.
The Mediterranean nation is exceptionally vulnerable to summer blazes. After the warmest winter on record, Greece also experienced its hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960, and the summer season has seen fires burn daily.
Temperatures were forecast to peak at 39°C in Greece yesterday, with wind gusts of up to 50kph.
Two hospitals in Penteli — one for children and a military facility — were evacuated at dawn, Vathrakogiannis said.
The brigade has deployed 510 firefighters and 152 vehicles, while 29 aircraft were due to set out at first light, he added.
“Forest fire near you. Follow the instructions of the authorities,” said SMS messages sent to people in the Attica region yesterday, indicating in which direction to flee.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cut short his holiday and returned to Athens on Sunday evening to deal with the crisis.
By Sunday afternoon, firefighters had quickly dealt with 33 out of the 40 blazes that had broken out in the previous 24 hours, but the force was battling seven more in the high summer heat, Vathrakogiannis said on Sunday.
Residents of the historic town of Marathon, 40km east of Athens, were among those ordered to evacuate on Sunday.
“Everything is burning,” said Giorgos Tsevas, a resident of Polydendri village.
“I have 200 olive trees there, but now they are gone,” he said.
Greek Minister of Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias on Saturday had said that half the nation was under a high-risk warning for fires due to high temperatures, wind gusts and drought conditions.
“Throughout the night, winds remained strong, creating dangerous situations. Unfortunately, their intensity is expected to increase in the coming hours,” Vathrakogiannis said.
Scientists warn that human-induced fossil fuel emissions are worsening the length, frequency and intensity of heat waves.
The rising temperatures are leading to longer wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt, the UN has said.
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