A video released by Greek police shows residents outside Athens leaving their homes as a massive forest fire rages in the distance.
ATHENS, Greece – Hundreds of firefighters in Greece are busy trying to contain a massive forest fire that broke out near Athens over the weekend, with authorities urging residents to seek safety as the flames destroy homes and scorch trees along the historic landscape.
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ATHENS, GREECE – AUGUST 12: Smoke rises over the Parthenon temple during a forest fire near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2024. (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has provided continuous updates since the wildfires began, saying that strong winds, prolonged droughts and the nature of the terrain make the work of containing and extinguishing the flames extremely difficult and dangerous.
HOW THE LAND’S PLAN INFLUENCES FOREST FIRE BEHAVIOR
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ATHENS, GREECE – AUGUST 12: A man leaves his house during a forest fire in Dione, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2024. A major fire that broke out in the northeastern town of Varnavas in Greece’s Attica region on Sunday is still raging, forcing residents of nearly 10 villages to evacuate in the early hours of Monday after many houses were damaged, local media reported. (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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ATHENS, GREECE – AUGUST 12: A wildfire ravages the forest in Dione, near Athens, Greece, on August 12, 2024. A major fire that broke out in the northeastern town of Varnavas in Greece’s Attica region on Sunday is still raging, forcing residents of nearly 10 villages to evacuate in the early hours of Monday after many houses were damaged, local media reported. (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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ATHENS, GREECE – AUGUST 12: Smoke rises over the Parthenon temple during a forest fire near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2024. (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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This photo shows the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis hill in a cloud of smoke from a wildfire in Athens on August 12, 2024. On August 12, 2024, Greek civil protection authorities ordered the evacuation of several towns in the northeastern suburbs of Athens threatened by a fierce fire that broke out the previous day and was spreading. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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A burning car during the East Attica wildfire in Varnavas, northeast of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Several wildfires broke out in Greece on Sunday, including in areas near the capital, and a red alert was imposed in large parts of the country. Photographer: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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A firefighter battles as he battles the East Attica wildfire in Varnavas, northeast of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Several wildfires broke out in Greece on Sunday, including in areas near the capital. Red alerts have been declared in large parts of the country. Photographer: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Firefighters work during a forest fire in Varnavas, north of Athens, on August 12, 2024. Greece is battling multiple wildfires on August 11, with smoke shrouding parts of the capital Athens in haze, while extreme weather warnings are in place for the rest of the week. (Photo by Dimitris Lampropoulos/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Firefighters work during a forest fire in Varnavas, north of Athens, on August 12, 2024. Greece is battling multiple wildfires on August 11, with smoke shrouding parts of the capital Athens in haze, while extreme weather warnings are in place for the rest of the week. (Photo by Dimitris Lampropoulos/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Nearly 700 firefighters, 27 forest command teams, 190 vehicles and volunteers are working to contain a huge fire that broke out near Varnava, northeast of Athens, on Sunday afternoon.
In addition, bulldozers have been deployed throughout Attica – the Greek region that includes Athens – to create firebreaks, and at least 33 planes are continuously spraying the flames with water from the air.
A video released by Greek police shows rescue workers rescuing residents trapped in a massive forest fire outside Athens on Monday, August 12, 2024.
Hospitals in the region are also on alert and, according to authorities, at least 15 people, including firefighters, have been injured.
Communities across the region have also been asked to prepare for possible evacuations due to the fires; in several towns, residents have already been asked to leave the area.
