Wildfires Sweep Across Greece as Strong Winds Fuel Blazes

Costas METAXAKIS

Wildfires driven by strong winds spread across several parts of Greece.

Wildfires driven by strong winds spread across several parts of Greece on Saturday, including areas near Athens, as large-scale firefighting operations and emergency evacuations continued. Conditions also deteriorated again in parts of Spain and France, according to Reuters.

Europe has been severely affected by wildfires this summer following a series of record-breaking heatwaves and prolonged dry conditions. Villages in France and Spain have been destroyed, while hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and holiday accommodation.

Greek authorities issued emergency alerts for several areas on Saturday and warned of an extremely high wildfire risk in the regions of Attica and Evia.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Civil Protection crisis coordination center on Saturday to receive updates on the fires as emergency services continued operations across the country, according to AA.

In one affected area, a campsite was left deserted after residents and visitors were evacuated due to the approaching flames, according to Reuters.

More than 300 firefighters, supported by 92 fire engines, heavy machinery and aircraft, continued battling a major blaze in the Boeotia region. More than 200 people from the town of Agios Vasileios, located around 80 kilometres northwest of Athens, were evacuated by sea.

A further 12 people fleeing the same fire were rescued from a beach in Porto Germeno by Greek Coast Guard patrol boats and a Fire Service vessel.

Firefighting efforts also continued overnight in the regions of Argolida and Arta as authorities worked to contain the spreading fires.



PUKMEDIA