A large-scale forest fire in Greece is spreading like wildfire and threatens the capital. Photo, video REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

A large-scale forest fire in Greece is spreading like wildfire and threatens the capital. Photo, video

Anna Velyka

The evacuation of residents of the surrounding settlements is ongoing

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.

reuters.com

Photo: REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

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.

x.com/AFP

Photo: x.com/AFP

reuters.com

Photo: REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

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.

Photo: Aristidis Vafeiadakis/ZUMA/IMAGO

Video: @ AFP, H.

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.

reuters.com

Photo: Alexandros Avramidis/REUTERS

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.

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