Huge wildfire encroaches on suburbs of Athens, 35 people injured
Thousands of residents in northeastern Athens and the broader Attica area stayed awake late into the night on Monday for the second consecutive night as a significant and fast-moving wildfire threatened the capital city.
TroibNews 
For two consecutive nights, residents in northeastern Athens and the broader Attica region stayed awake due to a large wildfire rapidly expanding and threatening the capital.
The blaze, driven by potent winds and parched conditions, continues to burn across several fronts. Over 700 firefighters, military personnel, volunteers, 35 aircraft designed for water dropping, and helicopters are engaged in extensive firefighting operations, a Fire Brigade spokesperson detailed.
"The situation improved by Monday night in several other areas," he noted.
Originating on Sunday near Marathon, a historic locale known as the origin of the marathon race and situated roughly 40 kilometers from central Athens, the fire escalated by Monday evening to the suburbs of the capital. Over 400 square kilometers of wooded and agricultural land have been scorched, early data from the National Observatory of Athens suggests.
A Fire Brigade spokesperson reported that 35 individuals, including three firefighters, sustained minor injuries, primarily respiratory issues from smoke inhalation. He also refuted reports of a missing person in a northern suburb.
A substantial number of evacuation alerts have been issued, with at least 30 calls for residents to leave their homes, according to the spokesperson. Evacuees found shelter in various venues, including hotels and sports facilities like the Athens Olympic Athletic Center, a major site for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.
By Monday, dense smoke lingered over parts of Athens for another day, compelling officials to recommend that residents remain indoors and keep windows shut to dodge harmful emissions from burning structures in the north.
The smoke has extended up to 300 kilometers south of Attica, stated Greek scientists based on satellite imagery data.
In response to Greece's activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, nations including Italy, France, Romania, the Czech Republic, Türkiye, and Serbia have offered support with additional personnel, firefighting vehicles, and aircraft, the Fire Brigade announced. Romanian and Czech teams were deployed by Monday evening.
"The situation improved by Monday night in several other areas," he noted.
Greece's summer season regularly sees wildfires exacerbated by heatwaves due to climate change and incidences of arson. This year's fires have already resulted in two deaths, following last year's 20. A tragic event in 2018 led to over 100 deaths during a wildfire in the coastal resort of Mati. Greek firefighters continuously face a high frequency of such fires, tackling approximately 40 daily at the onset of this week.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
The blaze, driven by potent winds and parched conditions, continues to burn across several fronts. Over 700 firefighters, military personnel, volunteers, 35 aircraft designed for water dropping, and helicopters are engaged in extensive firefighting operations, a Fire Brigade spokesperson detailed.
"The situation improved by Monday night in several other areas," he noted.
Originating on Sunday near Marathon, a historic locale known as the origin of the marathon race and situated roughly 40 kilometers from central Athens, the fire escalated by Monday evening to the suburbs of the capital. Over 400 square kilometers of wooded and agricultural land have been scorched, early data from the National Observatory of Athens suggests.
A Fire Brigade spokesperson reported that 35 individuals, including three firefighters, sustained minor injuries, primarily respiratory issues from smoke inhalation. He also refuted reports of a missing person in a northern suburb.
A substantial number of evacuation alerts have been issued, with at least 30 calls for residents to leave their homes, according to the spokesperson. Evacuees found shelter in various venues, including hotels and sports facilities like the Athens Olympic Athletic Center, a major site for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.
By Monday, dense smoke lingered over parts of Athens for another day, compelling officials to recommend that residents remain indoors and keep windows shut to dodge harmful emissions from burning structures in the north.
The smoke has extended up to 300 kilometers south of Attica, stated Greek scientists based on satellite imagery data.
In response to Greece's activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, nations including Italy, France, Romania, the Czech Republic, Türkiye, and Serbia have offered support with additional personnel, firefighting vehicles, and aircraft, the Fire Brigade announced. Romanian and Czech teams were deployed by Monday evening.
"The situation improved by Monday night in several other areas," he noted.
Greece's summer season regularly sees wildfires exacerbated by heatwaves due to climate change and incidences of arson. This year's fires have already resulted in two deaths, following last year's 20. A tragic event in 2018 led to over 100 deaths during a wildfire in the coastal resort of Mati. Greek firefighters continuously face a high frequency of such fires, tackling approximately 40 daily at the onset of this week.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
