One Dead, Thousands Evacuated As Wildfires Ravage Suburbs of Athens

A fierce wildfire in the suburbs of Athens, Greece, has claimed the life of one person and forced thousands to evacuate as the blaze continues to threaten homes, businesses, and schools. The body, believed to be that of a woman, was discovered inside a shop in the town of Vrilissia, northern Athens, according to a fire service source.

The wildfires, which erupted on Sunday afternoon, have spread rapidly across the north-eastern Attica region, which includes parts of the Greek capital. While fire service spokesman Col Vassilios Vathrakogiannis reported no single active fire front on Monday evening, he warned that “many active localised blazes” remain, particularly around the towns of Marathon and Penteli.

With conditions expected to remain dangerous through Tuesday and further into the week, more than 700 firefighters, 199 fire engines, and 35 waterbombing aircraft have been deployed to combat the flames. Two firefighters have been treated for burns sustained while battling the inferno.

The fires have already devastated approximately 100,000 acres of land, according to satellite images from Greece’s National Observatory. In the Penteli area, which is known for its wooded, hilly terrain, three hospitals had to be evacuated, and one of the National Observatory sites was feared to be under threat. The blaze also destroyed a timber factory, and explosions were heard in the region, likely caused by fuel tanks and residential gas cylinders.

As the flames raged, some residents of Penteli chose to stay behind, desperately trying to protect their homes. “It hurts. We have grown up in the forest. We feel great sadness and anger,” said 24-year-old Marina Kalogerakou as she attempted to douse a burning tree stump.

Others, like 81-year-old Vassilis Stroubelis, faced the devastation with resignation. “Thirty years I was building all this. Thirty years and bam,” he lamented, standing in the doorway of his damaged home.

In response to Greece’s activation of the EU’s mutual civil protection mechanism, several European nations have offered assistance. Italy is providing two planes, while France and Serbia are sending one helicopter each. Spain, the Czech Republic, and Romania are dispatching additional vehicles, personnel, and aid. Turkey has also announced plans to send two planes and a helicopter to assist in the firefighting efforts.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed the EU’s solidarity with Greece, stating on social media that the EU would “stand with Greece as it battles devastating fires.”

The wildfires come as Greece experiences its hottest June and July on record, with climate change exacerbating the risk of the hot, dry weather that fuels such blazes. The world has already warmed by approximately 1.1°C since the industrial era, and temperatures are expected to continue rising unless significant reductions in global emissions are achieved.

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