A new evacuation alert was issued for the Greek seaside town of Nea Makri on Tuesday as intense wildfires continued to ravage the suburbs of Athens. Meteorologists have issued a warning, anticipating that gusts of 37 to 43 miles per hour could exacerbate the deadly fire spreading across Athens.
One person has died; a body, believed to be a woman, was discovered inside a shop in Vrilissia, northern Athens, according to a fire service source.
Thousands have been evacuated as firefighters warned that homes, businesses, and schools are at risk. The thick smoke that enveloped Athens has dissipated, but the air remains hazy. Helicopters, which were grounded overnight for safety, have resumed operations, as reported by various media houses.
Firefighters are focussing on hotspots rather than one major firefront. Fire service spokesman Col. Vassilios Vathrakogiannis noted that while there is no single active fire front in the northeastern Attica region, which includes parts of Athens, numerous localied blazes persist, particularly around Marathon and Penteli. He warned that conditions for new fires remain hazardous for the rest of the week.
Over 700 firefighters, 199 fire engines, and 35 water-bombing aircraft are working to control the fires, which began on Sunday afternoon about 35 km (22 miles) north of Athens. Col. Vathrakogiannis reported that two firefighters have received treatment for burns.
Officials reported fires in 40 locations on Monday, with some flames reaching 25 meters (82 feet).
Greece’s National Observatory informed that satellite images revealed that by noon local time on Monday, the fire had affected around 100,000 acres (405 sq km; 156 sq miles).
In Penteli, a hilly wooded area, three hospitals had to be evacuated, and a site of the National Observatory was briefly at risk. The blaze also destroyed a timber factory and caused fuel tanks and residential gas cylinders to explode. Despite the danger, some residents of Penteli stayed behind, using hoses and tree branches to fight small fires.
In response to the crisis, European nations have offered assistance after Greece activated the EU’s mutual civil protection mechanism. Italy is sending two planes, while France and Serbia are providing one helicopter each. Spain, the Czech Republic, and Romania are sending additional vehicles, personnel, and aid. Turkey is also preparing to dispatch two planes and a helicopter.
Writing on social media platform X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would “stand with Greece as it battles devastating fires”.
Greece has experienced its hottest June and July on record, with climate change exacerbating the risk of wildfires. The world has warmed by approximately 1.1°C since the industrial era began, and temperatures are expected to rise further unless significant cuts to emissions are made globally.