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Greece is currently facing a dire situation with five major wildfires blazing across the country, causing officials to evacuate residents close to Athens. The fires, primarily centered just 30 kilometers north of the capital, have prompted the country to seek help from the European Union as smoke fills the air in central Athens. These wildfires come during an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 44°C.
According to Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis, the situation is critical, with injuries among firefighters and significant damage to properties and forests. Firefighters, numbering over 200, are battling these blazes with helicopters and water-bombing aircraft amid continuously challenging conditions.
In the region of Attica, flames spreading from a fire that ignited in Afidnes have engulfed nearby areas, leading many to flee their homes. While the firefighters have managed to contain the main front, hotspots remain active. On the island of Evia, another fire has spiraled out of control, impacting several villages that are now without electricity due to destroyed power lines.
Intervention efforts have also been noted on Kythira, where a wildfire has led to devastating scenes, and the coastguard has rescued numerous individuals from Limnionas beach. Moreover, wildfires in the Polithea area and Chania region of Crete have led to further destruction, prompting emergency alerts and several evacuations.
As weather forecasts suggest no immediate relief, officials have warned that other regions are still at risk of fire. Last month, a wildfire on Chios island resulted in substantial land loss, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of Greece to wildfires during the summer months.
Greece is currently facing a dire situation with five major wildfires blazing across the country, causing officials to evacuate residents close to Athens. The fires, primarily centered just 30 kilometers north of the capital, have prompted the country to seek help from the European Union as smoke fills the air in central Athens. These wildfires come during an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 44°C.
According to Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis, the situation is critical, with injuries among firefighters and significant damage to properties and forests. Firefighters, numbering over 200, are battling these blazes with helicopters and water-bombing aircraft amid continuously challenging conditions.
In the region of Attica, flames spreading from a fire that ignited in Afidnes have engulfed nearby areas, leading many to flee their homes. While the firefighters have managed to contain the main front, hotspots remain active. On the island of Evia, another fire has spiraled out of control, impacting several villages that are now without electricity due to destroyed power lines.
Intervention efforts have also been noted on Kythira, where a wildfire has led to devastating scenes, and the coastguard has rescued numerous individuals from Limnionas beach. Moreover, wildfires in the Polithea area and Chania region of Crete have led to further destruction, prompting emergency alerts and several evacuations.
As weather forecasts suggest no immediate relief, officials have warned that other regions are still at risk of fire. Last month, a wildfire on Chios island resulted in substantial land loss, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of Greece to wildfires during the summer months.
