Greece ordered new evacuations near Athens on Monday due to forest fires that broke out last weekend. And this despite “superhuman” The various fire departments are making great efforts to contain the flames that are rapidly approaching the Greek capital.
Authorities in Chalandrione of the most important metropolises northwest of Athens with 70,000 inhabitants, demanded Neighbourhoods closest to the fireswhich began on Sunday, is to be cleared.
“Due to the wind direction, we decided on a preventive evacuation (…) The fire is very close,” they told public broadcaster ERT.
Disaster management authorities early in the morning ordered the evacuation of at least five townsafter hundreds of people were forced to evacuate at least eight villages in the area on Sunday.
Also two hospitalsa children’s hospital and a military hospital, had to be evacuated and Patients transferred to other facilities in Pendulumabout 15 kilometers northeast of Athens.
“The civil defense forces fought hard all night, but despite superhuman efforts the fire continues to spread rapidly,” said a fire department spokesman. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told reporters in remarks picked up by AFP.
Residents of the historic city Marathon40 kilometers east of Athens and home to 7,000 people, were evacuated overnight to the coastal town of Nea Makri.
“We are facing a biblical catastrophe. Our entire community is in flames,” the city’s mayor, Stergios Tsirkas, told Skai television.
According to public broadcaster ERT The fire front now extends over 30 kilometers and some flames are over 25 meters high.
High temperatures and gusts of wind
“Forest fires in your area. Follow the instructions of the authorities,” wrote the civil protection in messages sent to the residents of the regionwith details about where to evacuate.
Authorities opened the OAKA Olympic Stadiumin the north of Athens to accommodate thousands of displaced people. Two firefighters were injured and 13 civilians were hospitalized due to breathing problems, according to a fire department spokesman.
Authorities 670 firefighters and 183 vehicles in action. Additionally, 32 aircraft flew over the area since the morning.
“We all work around the clock” Marinos Peristeropoulosa firefighter in action in grammarone of the most difficult areas, AFP said. “The fire spread very quickly due to the strong winds.”
In view of the cloud of smoke seen in Athens, the Union of Pulmonologists called on residents to Avoid outdoor exerciseand pregnant women and frail people should limit their outings.
The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakiscut short his vacation and returned to the capital on Sunday evening to deal with the crisis.
“Everything is burning”
Yearly, Numerous fires devastate parts of Greece.
But the situation is particularly worrying this year after the warmest winter ever and the earliest heat wave in its history.
For this Monday, Temperatures up to 39 ºC are forecastwith wind gusts of up to 50 km/h.
The country welcomes many tourists in The summer and the heat have forced the Acropolis close several times during the hottest hours.
The Greek Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection warned on Saturday: half the country was with high fire risk Due to high temperatures, gusty winds and drought at least until August 15th.
George Tsevasa 48-year-old resident of Polydendria village near the fire front, whose name means “many trees” in Greek, lamented on Sunday. “Everything is burning. I had two hundred olive trees and they are all gone,” he said despairingly.
France, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey will send resources to Greece
The situation has reached such a level that France has announced that it will a total of 180 firefighters to help extinguish the fires.
The announcement was made by the French Interior Minister. Gerald DarmaninHe assured that France would send a helicopter 180 civilian security forces And 55 fire engines.
They are not the only ones. The Washington Post reports that both Italy And Czech Republic will also send reinforcements. The Italians will two water-launched aircraft The Czech Republic will 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles to help Greece.
Spain and Türkiye will also send assistance, but has not yet announced what resources they will send to Greek territory to assist in fighting the fire and when they will arrive.
