Evacuations Ordered Near Athens To Contain Wildfires

A fast-spreading wildfire tore through several neighborhoods close to the Greek capital of Athens on Monday, prompting authorities to urge residents to evacuate their homes.

Some 685 firefighters and 32 water-bombing aerial units have been deployed to extinguish the blaze that began Sunday near the town of Varnavas, north of Athens, local authorities said.

Emergency crews have been tackling “an extremely dangerous fire” for more than 20 hours, under “dramatic conditions” exacerbated by strong winds, prolonged drought and impenetrable terrain in dense, unburnt forest, according to the climate crisis and civil protection minister, Vassilis Kikilias.

Flare-ups
The blaze showed no sign of subsiding, with 40 flare-ups recorded since the early hours of Monday morning, the fire services said

Fires could be seen raging near houses on Greek TV. Some yards were burning. Not all residents have left affected areas, instead staying behind in an effort to save their homes.

Authorities warned Monday that the wildfire was raging towards Penteli, around 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) northeast of Athens, with “great momentum.” The area lies at the foot of Mount Penteli, which is surrounded by swathes of wooded terrain. Reports said

The wildfires also threatened the premises of the National Observatory of Athens – an institute founded in 1842 – Theodore Giannaros, a researcher, said on Facebook.

Although wildfires are common in Greek summers, climate scientists say that unusually hot and dry weather linked to global warming make the blazes fiercer and more common. Greek authorities have battled dozens of blazes already this summer after enduring its hottest June and July on record.

CNN/Shakirat Sadiq