Wildfire Ravages Athens: A Battle Against the Flames
The smell of smoke and soot permeates Athens as a destructive wildfire burns northeast of the Greek capital, darkening the sky on a somber Sunday.
With more than 250 firefighters, 67 fire engines, 12 planes, and six helicopters battling the blaze that started around 3 p.m. local time approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Athens, the fight against the inferno intensifies.
The flames rapidly approach Lake Marathon, a critical reservoir providing water to Athens, causing damage to an unknown number of households, as per Fire Colonel Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the fire department.
With winds reaching gale force strength and flames towering over 25 meters (80 feet), residents of nearby villages are urged to evacuate in the face of this menacing threat, as emergency text alerts are issued.
Additionally, a separate fire west of Athens has been contained, providing a sliver of relief amidst the crisis.
The scorching heat and arid conditions, exacerbated by strong winds, elevate the risk of wildfires, especially following record-breaking temperatures in June and July in Greece, including the hottest winter ever documented.
Both meteorologists and government authorities caution about the heightened wildfire risk due to prevailing weather patterns from Sunday to Thursday, leading to a “red alert” covering half the country, as stated by Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias.
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