Forest Fire Near Athens Under Control, But Area on High Alert
Greek firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control, but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands.
Greece has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to fires in the summer fueled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change.
The fire around Athens broke on Thursday afternoon near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages popular with local and foreign tourists, AFP reported.
Though it was under control on Friday, a volatile combination of high temperatures and strong winds meant that a high risk of other fires breaking out remained, especially in the Attica region around the Greek capital and some islands in the north Aegean Sea, authorities said.
A spokesman for the fire service told AFP that over 100 firefighters with 37 vehicles and a helicopter were on standby near Palaia Fokaia and Thymari.
Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze.
The blaze came on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios -- Greece's fifth-largest island -- which had destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days.
Weather agencies forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), including in the capital Athens.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Italy issues red alert for intense heat across 21 Italian cities
Italy's health ministry warned residents and tourists on Friday of soaring temperatures across the country, issuing a red alert for 21 cities this weekend. The ministry issued its top red alert for cities including the capital Rome, economic powerhouse Milan and Venice -- where the rich and famous are celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. It said temperatures could rise to 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in places. The ministry -- which publishes green, yellow, orange and red heatwave warnings daily for 27 large Italian cities -- advised people not to go outdoors between 11am and 6pm if possible, and seek shelter in airconditioned public places. In Venice, the temperature was set to hit 32C on Saturday -- when Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to be throwing a dance party starring Lady Gaga -- but feel like around 36C due to humidity. In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36C on Sunday in the Rome, Milan and Naples. The warnings follow days of hot weather across the country, including the capital, where holidaymakers have been fined for attempting to cool off in fountains in the historic center. The city has put ambulances and medics on standby at busy sites such as the Colosseum, a popular draw for tourists despite the heatwave. Scientists say extreme heatwaves are a clear sign of global warming and are expected to become more frequent, longer and more intense. Fueled by human-caused climate change, 2024 was the warmest year on record globally and 2025 is projected to rank among the top three.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Forest Fire Near Athens Under Control, But Area on High Alert
Greek firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control, but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Greece has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to fires in the summer fueled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. The fire around Athens broke on Thursday afternoon near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages popular with local and foreign tourists, AFP reported. Though it was under control on Friday, a volatile combination of high temperatures and strong winds meant that a high risk of other fires breaking out remained, especially in the Attica region around the Greek capital and some islands in the north Aegean Sea, authorities said. A spokesman for the fire service told AFP that over 100 firefighters with 37 vehicles and a helicopter were on standby near Palaia Fokaia and Thymari. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze. The blaze came on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios -- Greece's fifth-largest island -- which had destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days. Weather agencies forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), including in the capital Athens.
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Forest fire near Athens under control, but area on high alert
ATHENS: Greek firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control, but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Greece has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to fires in the summer fueled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. The fire around Athens broke on Thursday afternoon near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages popular with local and foreign tourists. Though it was under control on Friday, a volatile combination of high temperatures and strong winds meant that a high risk of other fires breaking out remained, especially in the Attica region around the Greek capital and some islands in the north Aegean Sea, authorities said. A spokesman for the fire service told AFP that over 100 firefighters with 37 vehicles and a helicopter were on standby near Palaia Fokaia and Thymari. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze. The blaze came on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios — Greece's fifth-largest island — which had destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days. Weather agencies forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), including in the capital Athens.
