Greece forest fire fanned by gusty winds and stubborn heatwave
Over 180 firefighters, supported by 15 aircraft and 12 helicopters, are battling the fast-moving blaze in a pine forest west of Athens, fanned by gusty winds and a heatwave around 40C.
Emergency alerts were sent to residents in affected communities, including Agia Kyriaki, Etos Steko, and Imeros Pefkos, asking them to evacuate their homes.
Separately, a firefighting helicopter crashed into the sea near Athens while responding to another wildfire; all three crew members were rescued with non-life-threatening injuries.
Greece is prone to wildfires during summer due to hot, dry weather and strong winds, with officials warning that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such events.
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