Massive wildfire reaches Athens suburbs, 100,000 acres scorched

ATHENS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — For a second consecutive night on Monday, thousands of residents in northeastern suburbs of Athens and the wider Attica region have stayed awake, as a major and fast-moving wildfire threatened the capital.
Despite a large-scale firefighting effort involving over 700 firefighters, military personnel, volunteers, 35 water dropping aircraft and helicopters, the blaze, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, has spread rapidly and continued to rage on multiple fronts, a Fire Brigade spokesperson has said.
But the situation has improved by Monday night in several other areas, he added.
The wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon near the historic town of Marathon, the birthplace of the Marathon race, about 40 km northeast of downtown Athens.
By Monday evening, the fire has reached the capital’s suburbs, scorching some 100,000 acres of forested land and farmland, according to initial estimates of the National Observatory of Athens.
A total of 35 people, including three firefighters, were slightly injured, mostly from respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation, the Fire Brigade spokesperson said.
But he dismissed local media claims of a person missing in a northern suburb.
Meanwhile, at least 30 emergency alerts have been issued for the evacuation of settlements, the spokesperson said. Evacuees were accommodated at hotels and sports facilities, including the Athens Olympic Athletic Center, the main venue of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
On Monday, thick plumes of smoke shrouded for a second day parts of Athens with authorities advising the public to stay indoors and close windows to avoid inhaling toxic substances released from burning factories in northern suburbs.
The smoke from the wildfire has spread as far as some 300 km south of Attica, according to Greek scientists citing satellite images.
Italy, France, Romania, the Czech Republic, Türkiye and Serbia have responded to Greece’s request for the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and pledged support with personnel, fire engines, water dropping aircraft and helicopters, the Fire Brigade said.
Teams from Romania and the Czech Republic were deployed Monday evening.
Since the beginning of this season, Greek firefighters have been battling dozens of wildfires across the country each day, with 40 on Sunday and Monday respectively, the Fire Brigade spokesperson said.
Greece experiences frequent wildfires each summer, due to heatwaves linked to climate change, as well as arson. This year two people have lost their lives in wildfires, following 20 fatalities last year. In 2018, over 100 people died in a wildfire, which swept through the seaside resort of Mati. ■