Wildfire near Athens triggers evacuations and highway closures amid heatwave
A massive fire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, triggering emergency evacuations and roadblocks as blazes ravaged housing around the seaside town of Palaia Fokaia.Authorities closed sections of the scenic highway between the Greek capital and Sounion, which features the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a popular tourist destination.GREECE FACES FIRST MAJOR HEATWAVE
The fire broke out while Greece was experiencing its first heatwave of the summer, with temperatures close to 40C (104F). Firefighters fought the fire on the ground and in the air, struggling against the fierce heat and changing winds that made it difficult to contain.advertisement"Strong ground and aerial forces are fighting an enormous battle with the fire, especially in residential areas," fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis reported.AIR AND SEA FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS DEPLOYED As reported by the Associated Press, the firefighting effort involved 130 personnel, assisted by 12 helicopters, 12 water-dropping aircraft, and volunteer crews. A coast guard boat also sprayed sea water, with two patrol boats and nine private boats on standby for possible sea evacuations. Ambulances were placed on standby but had not been required by late afternoon.Local authorities reported that homes were likely damaged, but assessing the extent of the damage was delayed. "Some houses could have been damaged, but we are awaiting confirmation," local mayor Dimitris Loukas said to state-owned ERT television.Police took 40 people out and ordered five areas to be evacuated. Parts of the Athens-Sounion coastal highway were closed in both directions. "We are asking residents to evacuate their homes immediately," said local councilor Apostolos Papadakis.advertisementThough the origin of the fire is yet to be confirmed, authorities have sent an arson investigation unit to the scene. The entire Athens region and some Aegean islands remain at Level 4 wildfire risk due to hot and dry conditions.A major fire on the island of Chios earlier this week took four days to bring under control. Greece has seen its share of catastrophic summer blazes the Mati fire in 2018 killed more than 100 people.- Ends
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A firefighting airplane sprays water on a hill in Thymari, south of Athen (Image Credit: AP/File) Greece to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a major tourist attraction after a wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday. The fire came as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in Greece's first heatwave of the summer. "Right now, strong land and air forces are fighting a huge battle against the flames, mainly among homes," fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said during a press briefing Thursday afternoon. 12 planes, 12 helicopters, a coast guard ship along with volunteers helped 130 firefighters fight the fire near Palaia Fokaia, south of Athens, AP reported. The fire, which reportedly broke out within a populated area, was fanned by strong winds that frequently changed direction, sending plumes of smoke fanning out across the sky. Television footage showed at least one home burning. Local mayor Dimitris Loukas said on Greece's state-run ERT television that several houses were believed to have been damaged by the blaze, but added that exact information on property destruction was not immediately available. The coast guard said two patrol boats and nine private vessels were on standby in the Palaia Fokaia area in case an evacuation by sea became necessary. Ambulances were also on standby but had not been required by Thursday afternoon, authorities said. "We're telling people to leave their homes," local town councilor Apostolos Papadakis said on Greece's state-run ERT television. Parts of the coastal road connecting Athens to Sounion were closed in both directions, with people urged to take alternate routes to leave the area. The fire department spokesman said that an arson investigation unit had been sent to the area. Whole of Athens and also several Aegean islands, are on a high alert for wildfire broke out because of the weather condition.
India Today
11 hours ago
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Wildfire near Athens triggers evacuations and highway closures amid heatwave
A massive fire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, triggering emergency evacuations and roadblocks as blazes ravaged housing around the seaside town of Palaia closed sections of the scenic highway between the Greek capital and Sounion, which features the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a popular tourist FACES FIRST MAJOR HEATWAVE The fire broke out while Greece was experiencing its first heatwave of the summer, with temperatures close to 40C (104F). Firefighters fought the fire on the ground and in the air, struggling against the fierce heat and changing winds that made it difficult to ground and aerial forces are fighting an enormous battle with the fire, especially in residential areas," fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis AND SEA FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS DEPLOYED As reported by the Associated Press, the firefighting effort involved 130 personnel, assisted by 12 helicopters, 12 water-dropping aircraft, and volunteer crews. A coast guard boat also sprayed sea water, with two patrol boats and nine private boats on standby for possible sea evacuations. Ambulances were placed on standby but had not been required by late authorities reported that homes were likely damaged, but assessing the extent of the damage was delayed. "Some houses could have been damaged, but we are awaiting confirmation," local mayor Dimitris Loukas said to state-owned ERT took 40 people out and ordered five areas to be evacuated. Parts of the Athens-Sounion coastal highway were closed in both directions. "We are asking residents to evacuate their homes immediately," said local councilor Apostolos the origin of the fire is yet to be confirmed, authorities have sent an arson investigation unit to the scene. The entire Athens region and some Aegean islands remain at Level 4 wildfire risk due to hot and dry conditions.A major fire on the island of Chios earlier this week took four days to bring under control. Greece has seen its share of catastrophic summer blazes the Mati fire in 2018 killed more than 100 people.- Ends
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