Greek residents flee as wildfires rage in near Athens

Greece has ordered the evacuation of hospitals and residential areas near Athens as wildfires continue to spread, despite “superhuman” efforts to contain the flames, the fire brigade reported on Monday.

Civil protection authorities directed at least five additional communities to evacuate, following the relocation of hundreds of residents from eight villages on Sunday.

Despite the civil protection forces working tirelessly throughout the night, the fire rapidly expanded and has reached Mount Pentelicus and is advancing towards Penteli.

In response to the approaching fires, two hospitals in Penteli, including a children’s hospital and a military facility, were evacuated at dawn. 510 firefighters and 152 vehicles are on the scene, while 29 aircraft were scheduled to take flight.

Residents in the Attica region received SMS alerts warning them of the approaching forest fires, urging them to follow the authorities’ evacuation instructions. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who had been on holiday, cut his break short and returned to Athens on Sunday evening to manage the crisis.

By Sunday afternoon, firefighters had managed to extinguish 33 out of the 40 fires that had ignited over the previous 24 hours. However, the brigade was still battling seven more blazes amidst the intense Mediterranean summer heat, according to the fire brigade spokesman.

Among those ordered to evacuate were the residents of the historic town of Marathon, located 40 kilometres east of Athens.

Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias had already issued a warning on Saturday, stating that half the country was under high-risk conditions for fires due to the combination of high temperatures, strong winds, and drought.

Greece has been experiencing daily blazes during this season. Following the warmest winter on record, the country also endured its hottest June and July since reliable records began in 1960.

Scientists caution that human-induced fossil fuel emissions are exacerbating the duration, frequency, and severity of heatwaves worldwide.

Rising temperatures are leading to longer wildfire seasons and expanding the areas affected by fires, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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