A forest fire broke out on the northern outskirts of the Greek capital on Saturday, prompting residents in some areas to evacuate their homes, the national fire service said.
Residents of Kryoneri, 12.5 miles northeast of Athens, received three text messages asking them to urgently move to safe zones, fire spokesman Vasilis Vatrakoyannis told reporters.
Greek TV channels showed houses engulfed in flames. The speaker clarified: “Information about damage is already coming in. A full count will be made after the fire is localized.”
“The ordeal is just beginning,” Mr Vatrakoyannis stressed, noting that Greece had turned to the EU's civil protection mechanism for six firefighting aircraft.
145 firefighters, 44 special vehicles, 10 firefighting aircraft and seven helicopters are working to extinguish the fire; the root cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Four ambulance crews are providing support to at least five citizens – mostly elderly – with respiratory problems.
During the day, the thermometer rises to 38°C and higher, and the dry wind intensifies the flames.
In such conditions, forest fires “are rapidly gaining strength and pose a serious threat. Similar conditions will continue for the next 24 hours,” Mr Vatrakoyannis said.
Firefighters are simultaneously containing three other major fires in the southwest of the country's two main islands – Crete to the south and Euboea north of Athens – and on the island of Kythira northwest of Crete.
The operation involves at least 335 firefighters, 19 aircraft and 13 helicopters, but the equipment is only operational during daylight hours.
According to the representative, 52 forest fires have been registered throughout Greece in the last 24 hours.
Large fires, often causing devastating damage, have become a common occurrence in Greece in recent years, with multiple outbreaks already recorded over the past month.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
