Greece is battling a raging forest fire that is spreading incredibly fast due to strong winds. The fire has already reached the outskirts of Athens and is burning cars and houses there.
This is reported by Reuters.
The natural disaster was triggered by abnormal heat, dryness and windy weather.
The fire reached 25 m in height and forced residents of several cities around the Greek capital to leave their homes. In the villages of Varnavas and Grammatico, the fire engulfed houses and cars.
Massive wildfire in Greece sen from Airplane BREAKING GREEEE Attia GREIA ultimagoras ildfire fire indenio inendie #Αττική #Φωτιά Greek the Balkans the Balkans pizza.twitter.chom/Il2br5tl
— North X (@__Northgh) August 12, 2024
Video: @__NorthX, Kh.
More than 400 firefighters, 16 planes and 13 helicopters are trying to tame the elements. But they are hindered by a strong wind of 63-74 km/h – because of it, the fire covers new territories with lightning speed.
FALL Greece ordered the evacuation Monday of multiple communities northeast of Athens as wildfires raged, the fire brigade said.
"Forest fire ner iu. Follow the instructions of the authorities," said SMS messages sent to people in the Attica region, indicating in vgich... pizza.twitter.chom/jivzchtrshts
— AFP National Agency (@AFP) August 12, 2024
Video: @ AFP, H.
Wildfires continue to be uncontrollable through the nothing just north of the Greek capital agency #Βαρνάβα #μαραθωνας #fire #πυρκαγια #Διόνυσος firewood European gtneuropebreak pizza.twitter.chom/Dsnchkyshpdsh
— Evangelo Sipsas (@Evangelosipsas) August 11, 2024
Video: @EvangeloSipsas, Kh.
The publication notes that hundreds of forest fires have been raging throughout Greece since May. Scientists attribute the increase in their frequency and intensity to increasingly hotter and drier weather caused by climate change.
At the beginning of August, EcoPolitic already wrote about the fact that European tourist countries, including Greece, suffer from large-scale fires caused by heat.