Greece declares state of alert due to wildfires near Athens
Kyiv • UNN
Hundreds of wildfires have broken out in Greece, covering Athens in smoke. Authorities have declared a state of emergency due to extreme weather conditions and a high risk of fires in half of the country.
Smoke from several forest fires covered the Greek capital Athens on Sunday amid warnings of extreme weather conditions for the rest of the week. DW writes about it, UNN reports .
Details
Hundreds of fires have broken out this summer across the country, which has just recorded its hottest June and July on record.
One of the largest fires broke out in the town of Barnabas, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Athens in the East Attica region.
Representatives of the fire service reported that 250 firefighters were involved, supported by 67 vehicles, 12 fireplanes and 7 helicopters, and residents were ordered to evacuate.
Fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vatrakogiannis told reporters that some of the flames reached a height of more than 25 meters.
Another fire broke out Sunday afternoon in neighboring Megara, prompting evacuation warnings.
Forty-eight firefighters equipped with 13 vehicles and additional volunteers were on the scene, and several airplanes and helicopters provided air support.
In Thessaloniki, the fire in the city of Lagadas was partially controlled, with 20 firefighters, 10 vehicles and one helicopter working at the scene.
Later on Sunday, firefighters reported that they had extinguished 33 of the 40 fires that had broken out over the past 24 hours.
The country's Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias warned on Saturday that high temperatures, wind gusts and drought conditions mean half the country is under a high risk warning.
Kostas Lagouvardos, director of research at the National Observatory of Athens, called for a quick response to any fires, as they can quickly get out of control due to extreme weather conditions.
"What makes the situation so dangerous is the prolonged drought and very high temperatures that have been going on for a long time," he told state broadcaster ERT.
With wind speeds expected to reach 90 kilometers per hour (56 miles per hour) in some areas, Laguvardos said Sunday was likely to be the toughest day to fight the fires.
Greece is extremely vulnerable to summer fires, and this season fires have been breaking out daily since the country experienced its first heat wave in June.
Scientists warn that climate change due to carbon emissions is worsening the duration, frequency, and intensity of heat waves around the world.
