Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Raging forest fire closing on Athens
A MAJOR forest fire is raging out of control on the northern fringes of the Greek capital, triggering numerous evacuation orders for Athens suburbs and outlying areas as strong winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and several water-dropping planes.
With flames towering at times to heights of over 25 metres (80ft), the fire that began on Sunday afternoon burned homes and sent a blanket of smoke and ash over central Athens, where the smell of burning lingered in the air.
Power cuts were reported in several parts of the capital and also affected traffic lights at major junctions in the centre.
The blaze reached and damaged outlying sections of an Athens suburb about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the city centre. There were no reports of trapped residents, and authorities said 15 people were injured across areas afflicted by the fire, mostly due to smoke inhalation.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said France would send a helicopter, 180 civil security personnel and 55 fire engines.
Greece’s civil protection authority said Italy was sending two waterdropping planes and the Czech Republic was sending 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles. Spain and Turkey were also finalising reinforcements to send to Greece.
The wildfire was racing through pine forests left tinder dry by repeated heatwaves this summer.
June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, which also recorded its warmest winter ever.
Authorities were faced with “an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances”, climate crisis and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said mid-morning yesterday.
The fire was burning mainly on two separate fronts, with some parts in particularly difficult-to-reach areas on a mountain north east of Athens, Mr Kikilias said.
The fire department said 685 firefighters, backed by 27 teams specially trained to tackle wildfires and including more than 80 armed forces personnel, were battling the flames.