Nea Makri is just one of the suburbs of the Greek capital to be hit by the blaze was discovered on Monday in a shop in the town of Vrilissia Firefighters have been battling outbreaks to the north east of the capital city since Sunday Conditions are expected to remain dangerous over the next few days with reporting from Jessica Parker in Athens Firefighters try to tame a wildfire in Nea Penteli near Athens We'll be closing our live coverage shortly You can read more about this story here Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'It looked like a storm was coming' to Athens visitor sayspublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 12 August 202418:47 BST 12 August 2024Rozina SiniBBC News David outside the Hellenic Parliament in Athens yesterday I’ve just spoken to David Cassidy from Belfast who flew out to Athens with his partner on Saturday When visiting the presidential palace yesterday At 04:50 local time this morning he received an emergency alert on his phone and says he has continued to get them since They plan to fly from Athens to Santorini tonight at 20:00 local time Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingExtended outages after power poles damagedpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 12 August 202418:35 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens has left the meeting held earlier under the governor of Attica a welfare unit in Melissia which housed 55 elderly people with disabilities has been evacuated Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSmoke rises as some cars appear to catch firepublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 12 August 202418:24 BST 12 August 2024Jessica ParkerReporting from Athens We’re looking on at a northern suburb of Athens - from where smoke is rising Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe latest pictures as Greece continues its battle against wildfirespublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 12 August 202418:08 BST 12 August 2024Greece continues to mount its huge operation to tackle the wildfires as strong winds cause flare-ups in several areas Here's a look at some of the latest pictures this evening: Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAthens' sky thick with smoke say residentspublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 12 August 202417:51 BST 12 August 2024Thomas CopelandLive reporter The BBC World Service's Outside Source has been speaking with two men in the Greek capital "This morning the people of Athens woke up at 4:40am after a message stating that certain areas in the northern suburbs of Athens needed to be evacuated," says Ioannis "There are airplanes flying over the fires and spreading water says the wildfire smoke started spreading over the city yesterday afternoon A lot of people have been very much rubbing their eyes," he says "and you can smell the smoke quite badly We know that it's about 30 minutes drive outside of Athens." Every year it's getting hotter and we're getting more and more wildfires," Martin says "The truth is that there's not enough firefighters Most of the firefighters are volunteers," he says "and even though the government says we'll be ready for the next summer it always appears that they never are." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhere are the wildfires?published at 17:41 British Summer Time 12 August 202417:41 BST 12 August 2024Firefighters are battling wildfires across north-eastern Attica - with fire fronts ranging from the village of Grammatikos in the north to the suburb of Penteli Strong winds have caused continuous flare-ups in 40 different locations since the early hours of this morning The gusts of wind have also blown smoke from the wildfires over Athens - as you can see on the satellite image - where residents report breathing problems and skies filled with smoke Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingDozens of people are treated for breathing problems and one firefighter suffers burnspublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 12 August 202417:28 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGovernor of Attica holds meeting to discuss next stepspublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 12 August 202417:14 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens is holding a meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest wildfire developments the mayors and the vice mayors of the affected areas and representatives from the municipalities of Penteli will participate in the meeting to decide the next steps In the latest update by the fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said the critical fronts are in Ntaou Pentelis The situation looks better in Afidnes and Kalendzi but new flare-ups remain a problem as they create new fronts which are strengthened by the strong winds There are currently 702 firefighters and 119 vehicles and volunteers operating along 17 aircrafts and 18 helicopters Thirty messages have been sent for area evacuations many animals have been burned - including dogs and cats Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTourists wait in Athens airport unsure of their next movepublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 12 August 202416:52 BST 12 August 2024Rachel FlynnLive reporter Nicole says the air became "unbreathable" around her accommodation I've just been speaking to Nicole Nitu who was staying in the town of Nea Makri before being evacuated this afternoon describes walking into the garden of her accommodation at 06:30 local time (04:30 GMT) this morning to see smoke less than 100m away When looking online for information she says she was reassured the area was safe before receiving an alert on her phone and evacuating four hours later They are now all waiting at Athens airport Another member of the group tells me: "There's no safety plan here Unable to change their flights and unsure where else is safe Nicole says there is not enough clear information from authorities on what to do next “We really just want to be told what we need to do and where we need to go," she says Nicole took this at 13:00 local time on the way to Athens airport from Nea Makri Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGet in touchpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 12 August 202416:33 BST 12 August 2024Have you been affected by the wildfires Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFrance and Italy send aircrafts to control firespublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 12 August 202416:16 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens Romania and the Czech Republic after Greece requested the activation of a European cooperation mechanism France will send a Super Puma helicopter tomorrow and Italy a Canadair aircraft while the Czech Republic is sending 75 firefighters along with 25 vehicles Assistance from Spain and Turkey is also expected The fire has now been burning for more than 24 hours and the firefighters are still struggling to control it Aircrafts only have two hours left until the sunset - after that they must land and the firefighting operation will be exclusively on the firefighters and the fire trucks on the ground A firefighting helicopter had to land earlier due to a mechanical failure Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWatch: Wildfires spread towards Greek capitalpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 12 August 202416:06 BST 12 August 2024As we've been reporting thousands of residents are being evacuated from their homes as a large wildfire spreads towards Athens Emergency services say houses caught alight in Varnavas about 20 miles north-east of the Greek capital with high temperatures and strong winds expected to persist over the coming days Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFlights continue despite wildfire nearbypublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 12 August 202415:42 BST 12 August 2024Christopher BlanchettBBC senior weather presenter Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGreece appeals for international helppublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 12 August 202415:26 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens Greece has appealed for international help to fight a severe wildfire that is approaching the northern outskirts of Athens with France also providing a Super Puma utility helicopter and the Czech Republic sending 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles We are also hearing that the facilities of the National Observatory of Athens in Penteli are under threat as the flame continues moving closer to the Greek capital Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'The air is suffocating' says Greek journalistpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 12 August 202415:12 BST 12 August 2024Image source EPA"It is really hard to breathe when you are there," a Greek journalist has told the BBC's Newshour programme "In some areas the air is suffocating and you can see black smoke surrounding houses and neighbourhoods," says Ioannis Papadopoulos Residents at the front line of the blaze told Papadopoulos that "they live in fear" "Every summer they worry that a new fire might erupt and that they might be in danger," he says "In a wildfire what is crucial is the first response how fast the firefighting teams reach the spot and try to suppress the fire," says Papadopoulos Whilst firefighters reportedly reached the initial blaze in just five minutes "what we can see is this was not enough" "I think the problem is when our firefighting teams have to deal with two or three fires at the same time in different parts of Greece," he adds Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSchool engulfed in flames as wildfires continue to flare uppublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 12 August 202414:58 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens A school in Nea Penteli is now on fire - with residents complaining that there are not enough fire trucks and firefighters to help A new message from the 112 Emergency Communications Service has been to the residents of Dionysos to evacuate north-west toward Kifissia Houses and properties are on fire in the areas of Ano Vrilissia Chalandri is 8.8 km away from Athens' centre Vrilissia residents are calling for assistance as the flames are really close to their properties the operation remains extremely difficult as the winds remain strong and there are constant flare ups Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHow is climate change affecting wildfires in the Mediterranean?published at 14:48 British Summer Time 12 August 202414:48 BST 12 August 2024Mark PoyntingClimate reporter long-lasting heat draws moisture out of the ground and vegetation Read more on the links between extreme weather and climate change here Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGreece requests assistance from Croatia and Spain to help tackle firespublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 12 August 202414:39 BST 12 August 2024Nikos PapanikolaouReporting from Athens The Greek authorities have officially requested assistance from Croatia and Spain to help with the firefighting operation There are explosions from parked cars and fuel tanks in properties which are creating new flare ups - the pressure of the water in the affected areas is getting low a very high risk of fire (risk category 4) is predicted for the regions of Attica and Central Greece Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingIn pictures: battling the flames from land and airpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 12 August 202414:25 BST 12 August 2024As we've been reporting Greece has mounted a huge operation to tackle the wildfires that are approaching Athens Here's a look at some of the firefighters and volunteers battling the flames Volunteers are putting out smaller fires themselves 17 helicopters and 15 airplanes are making water drops Greece (AP) — A major wildfire raged out of control in the northern suburbs of Athens on Monday triggering evacuations of several areas as swirling winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes READ MORE: Chronic housing shortage leaves Maui residents displaced a year after deadly wildfire fast-moving blaze sent flames to heights of over 25 meters (80 feet) as Greece sought assistance from other countries activating Europe’s mutual civil protection mechanism The fire began Sunday afternoon about 35 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Athens burning several homes and businesses and sending a blanket of smoke and ash over the city center Power cuts hit parts of the Greek capital and affected traffic lights at major central junctions as the blaze reached outlying sections of a suburb about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center Greece’s National Observatory said late Monday that satellite images show the blaze has affected about 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) Italy two water-dropping planes and the Czech Republic 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles while Serbia and Romania were also readying aid Neighboring Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the country would dispatch two firefighting planes and a helicopter while Spain was also finalizing reinforcements to send to Greece The wildfire raced through pine forests left tinder-dry by repeated heat waves this summer June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece which also recorded its warmest winter ever An early start of the fire season this year has strained Greece’s firefighting force “Firefighters have been working at full tilt for months,” said Nikos Lavranos head of Greece’s main firefighters’ union Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said Monday it was “an exceptionally dangerous fire which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances.” Some areas that were burning on a mountain northeast of Athens were particularly hard to reach two monasteries and a children’s home were evacuated on Monday afternoon Cellphones in the area got at least 30 push alerts warning people to flee “The wind would go in one direction and then in the other,” said Spyros Gorilas a resident of the area of Dioni who hosed down his house with water to save it from the flames “Even the helicopter that dropped water Evacuation orders were issued for more Athens suburbs through Monday Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said there were scores of flareups in areas where the flames had somewhat abated earlier and armed forces personnel were battling the flames with aerial support from 17 water-dropping planes and 16 helicopters Three Athens hospitals were on heightened alert while paramedics and ambulances treated two firefighters — one for light burns and the other for breathing problems — and 13 civilians for breathing problems The Athens Medical Association warned those with chronic conditions children and those with respiratory and heart problems to be extra cautious Greece’s coast guard diverted all ferries from a nearby port serving several Aegean Sea islands Sports halls and hotels were turned into evacuation centers The police said 380 police officers were assisting in evacuations and helped move more than 250 people away from the path of the flames It posted a video on social media showing officers carrying elderly people out of their homes to waiting vehicles against the backdrop of a flame-red nighttime sky Authorities said some people who refused to leave their homes later became trapped and required rescuing some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the heart of Athens where the famed Acropolis and other archeological sites are located — typically have thousands of residents it was unclear how many were away on vacation at the height of the summer season and how many had obeyed the evacuation orders or stayed on their own to fight the blaze Meteorologists warned of the increased danger of wildfires because of weather conditions from Sunday until Thursday with half of the country placed under a red alert for wildfire hazard Dozens of other wildfires also broke out in several parts of Greece on Monday Wildfires are frequent in the Mediterranean country during its hot but authorities have said climate change is fueling bigger and more frequent blazes In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati trapping people in their homes and on the roads as they tried to flee in their cars including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames wildfires in Greece killed more than 20 people including 18 migrants who became trapped by the flames as they trekked through a forest in northeastern Greece and were caught by a massive blaze that burned for more than two weeks Wildfires on Monday also hit neighboring North Macedonia and Albania which have had high summer temperatures and strong winds Associated Press journalists Lefteris Pitarakis in Dioni Greece; and Elise Morton in London contributed to this report © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker People say they are determined and that prevention will be key to mitigating the effects of the climate crisis “I used to talk to them every day.” Dimitris Petrou takes in the creatures that were once his fluffy chicks but now look like coals. The buckled cage with its carbonised birds is part of the cataclysmic scenery left behind by the fire that bore down on Athens after raging across the Attica plains consuming everything in its path. The 72-year-old retiree and his wife, Frosso, though red-eyed and fatigued, are “somehow still going” but are profoundly shocked. Three days have elapsed since the flames engulfed everything they once owned in Nea Penteli, a suburb of the Greek capital. Read moreIn the ash and wreckage lie the buildings they once knew as their home the ruin they once called their car and the outhouses that once provided shelter for their animals we did everything we could to save it,” said Dimitris “The winds were so fierce that when the flames arrived everything you see “And then the wind must have changed because part of the garden survived our cherry and fig trees over there survived and nothing else in the neighbourhood was touched.” The Petrou family are among the untold number of Greeks left homeless by the inferno that began on Sunday in the forested vicinity of Varnava “on the other side of the mountain” more than 20 miles (30km) away Once ignited it moved with lightning speed destroying buildings and forcing thousands to evacuate homes across a vast swath of the Attic landscape north east of Athens The charred and buckled remains of the Petrou family’s outhouses Photograph: Helena Smith/The GuardianGreece’s National Observatory research institute believes the blaze laid waste to at least 10,000 hectares of land But it was the sight of the conflagration reaching the capital’s residential areas where citizens armed with little more than hosepipes spades and towels were forced to douse flames themselves – and where a woman later described as a Moldovan immigrant worker succumbed to the fire when it gutted a wreath-making factory – that has caused alarm In a country inured to the phenomenon of summer wildfires the inferno has amounted to a realisation that on the frontline of the climate emergency and at a time when Europe is warming at a much faster rate than any other part of the world as Lena and Antigone Kalpidou discovered this week “The plot next door went up in flames,” said Lena an archaeologist who moved with her sister to a Swiss-style apartment block looking on to Mount Penteli three decades ago Had our neighbour not been here and rushed to put out the fire with the garden hosepipe we might not have been so lucky.” the soft-spoken businessman who saved the day still appears dazed as he recounts how he ran “up and down the street” extinguishing wind-propelled fireballs carried on pine cones and needles “They were hurtling through the air at great speed,” he said spade and hosepipe and with other residents who had also refused to be evacuated we rushed to snuff out the flames.” It is not lost on Panagiotou that the drama of witnessing a wildfire barrel towards him on a street in an otherwise sedate northern suburb could be “the new reality” 0:54Drone footage shows scale of destruction caused by wildfires in Greece – video“And in new realities what do you do “Greece has to learn to do that but unfortunately the state in this country is utterly disorganised It’s evident that it’s us citizens who will have to rise to the challenge posed by our changing environment.” Standing amid the charred remains of what was once the sitting room of the three-storey stone villa she grew up in the civil engineer still cannot believe how the inferno that began in the building’s roof could have raged so uncontrollably “for at least six hours” She and her boyfriend rushed to the villa on Monday as soon as they were told smoke was emerging from the house Free weekly newsletterThe most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment “The wooden roof above the loft went up first,” she said “We were desperately calling the fire brigade but only a civil protection team turned up and very soon ran out of water pointing to the remnants of a white piano in the room my parents watched it in real time because a TV crew in the area arrived to film the fire They were on holiday in Corfu and in total shock.” Two other houses nearby were also heavily damaged “We’re talking about the state machinery of a developed country with every technology at its disposal “It means little,” said Vagdetli. “Experience has proved that such relief is always risible, a fraction of the value of what you lose. I’ve got friends who lost their home in a fire two years ago and are still waiting for the state to live up to its promise of help.” “It’s all about prevention now,” says Penteli’s vice-mayor, Yiannis Zounis, as water-dropping aircraft fly overhead to thwart potential flare-ups. “We’ve now got five reservoirs in the municipality for firefighting aircraft to refuel [with water].” Further south in Vrillisia, where the blaze also decimated buildings, Zounis’s counterpart Yannis Bitas says pruning and clearing the suburb’s forest of flammable shrubbery saved lives. “No one had done anything to the forest for 30 years. If it had gone up in flames, the apartment blocks opposite could well have gone up too,” he said. Like Vagdetli, Dimitris Petrou blames disorganisation “and bad coordination” on the part of Greece’s emergency services for his plight. “If one plane had made one drop [of water] it could have saved this house,” he said. “There were helicopters flying over the mountain and fire engines parked idly in the square when the flames were advancing.” Responding to criticism from Greece’s main leftwing opposition party over the lacklustre number of water-dropping planes in the skies on Monday, the fire brigade said 36 aircraft had participated in the firefighting operation, more than on any other day. Still, Petrou has no plans to move. Like the Kalpidou sisters, he wants to stay in Penteli precisely because the verdant landscape makes life in Athens more tolerable. “It’s so much cooler and the air so much fresher up here,” he said. “We’ve lost so much: our possessions, our animals, the roof over our heads. But I’m determined. We’ll create an even bigger anti-fire zone around this property, we’ll build an even bigger water system in the event of emergency. We’ll start anew, all over again.” A fire that erupted northeast of Athens on Sunday has spread to Mount Penteli, just north of the Greek capital, prompting the evacuation of several settlements. The fast-moving blaze, fueled by hot and windy conditions, has already destroyed trees, homes, and vehicles, and has sent thick smoke clouds over the city. Civil Protection issued an emergency 112 alert to residents of Palaia Penteli, Melissia, Politeia, Ekali, Drafi, and Nea Erythrea at 4.52 a.m., instructing them to be on high alert. A follow-up message at 5.10 a.m. advised Nea Penteli residents to evacuate towards Melissa and those in Palaia Penteli to move towards Vrilissia. Three minutes later, a new message directed residents of Drafi, Dioni, and Damarasi in Rafina to evacuate towards Marathonos Avenue. By 5.40 a.m., another alert was issued for residents in Daou Penteli and Agios Spiridonas, instructing them to head towards Rafina. Residents of Anthoussa were advised to be on standby with a message sent at 5.45 a.m. At 6.30 a.m., residents of the Anatoli settlement were instructed to move towards Nea Makri. The Penteli Children’s Hospital and the 414 Military Hospital have also been evacuated, according to fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis. “I was told to leave; the situation is out of control. There are gas cylinders and an oil tank inside the house. It’s my permanent residence, the result of a lifetime of hard work,” a Rapendosa resident, who watched his home engulfed in flames, told Kathimerini. Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Fires have now ravaged neighbouring Turkey I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Investigators have said what they believe is the cause of huge deadly wildfires that destroyed homes and land near Athens last week Authorities said they suspect a faulty power caused the blaze that killed one woman and torched 10,000 hectares near Athens covering a total area about the size of Paris broke out from a forest off Varnavas town near the ancient town of Marathon 35 km (22 miles) from the capital and into Athens’ northern suburbs Authorities have questioned Varnavas residents as part of their investigation into what caused the blaze A 76-year old man said a wooden electricity pillar outside his home which had a loose cable fastened to it with a hanger That scenario was the leading one in the probe which should be concluded over the coming months an official with knowledge of the investigation said A fire brigade official who declined to be named said an area close to the electricity pole had been determined as the starting point of the blaze Wildfires have been a common feature of Greek summers for years with many attributed to voluntary or involuntary arson The country registered more than 8,000 forest fires in 2023 the risk of such fires has been raised by climate change which has brought hotter weather and less rain A prosecutor has deployed engineers to look into the latest wildfire’s cause Greece‘s power network operator HEDNO said it had found no evidence of a malfunction “We have no indication that anything wrong such as a short-circuit happened,” an official at HEDNO told Reuters adding that only the relevant authorities were responsible for determining the fire’s cause Local media cited residents who had heard explosions before the fire broke out Others said there were initially two fires Meanwhile, in neighbouring Turkey, firefighters are tackling blazes after dry, hot and windy weather conditions led to a series of fires, including one that threatened First World War memorials and graves at the Gallipoli battle site. At the peninsula where an Allied landing was beaten back by Ottoman troops in a year-long campaign in 1915, the flames reached Canterbury Cemetery, where soldiers from New Zealand are interred. Images of the site in north-west Turkey showed soot-blackened gravestones in a scorched garden looking out over the Aegean Sea. The fire was brought under control by Friday. Officials said it was started by a spark from electricity lines that spread through forested areas. Elsewhere, however, the continuous work of emergency crews stretched over days and nights. On the west coast, a fire threatened houses on the outskirts of Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city, where a blaze broke out in woods on Thursday night. Residents fled their homes as ash fell around them. Turkey has mobilised dozens of aircraft, hundreds of vehicles and thousands of personnel to fight the fires. In June, a fire spread through settlements in south-east Turkey, killing 11 people and leaving dozens of others requiring medical treatment. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/gallery","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"Greece Wildfire","description":"A burned roadside shrine stands in Nea Penteli suburb of Athens, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, following a major wildfire that has burned into the northern suburbs of the Greek capital. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)","caption":"A burned roadside shrine stands in Nea Penteli suburb of Athens, on Tuesday A burned roadside shrine stands in Nea Penteli suburb of Athens, on Tuesday Firefighters battled on Wednesday to extinguish the final pockets of a wildfire near Athens that killed a woman and forced thousands of people to flee their homes The blaze burned 40 square miles of land northeast of the Greek capital this week and came within just miles of reaching a tourist-packed centre Most of the fronts had eased three days after the inferno had first taken hold but officials warned against complacency as firefighters were still battling sporadic flare-ups Temperatures were expected to hit 40C across the country with many areas on fire alert until the end of Thursday due to strong winds and dry land Some were still suffering from power cuts on Wednesday afternoon after power cables were taken down by the fire which has recently tightened penalties for arson a nearly 50 per cent increase from the same period in 2023 when it recorded 2,300 blazes “It is a vast area and forces are trying to ensure day and night that there won’t be any rekindlings,” Nikos Lavranos head of the Greek federation of fire service employees Government inspectors were assessing damaged buildings and state infrastructure on Wednesday Some fire-stricken residents returned to their scorched properties hoping to find some belongings amidst the debris while others were trying to overcome the shock Hundreds of firefighters assisted by dozens of aircraft have been tackling the blaze since Sunday as it barrelled from a forest off the town of Varnavas The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the military airport of Elefsina to thank the pilots of firefighting aircraft “This is an effort we all make during a great climate crisis,” he said Mr Mitsotakis also said that Greece would need to wait another three years before the arrival of seven firefighting aircraft it has purchased from Canada. The conservative government, which has announced compensation and relief measures for those impacted by the disaster, has been criticised by opposition parties over the current number of firefighters and the aircraft it deployed for the latest blaze. Sunday’s fire broke rapidly across several fronts reaching within hours the seaside area of Nea Makri and areas around the historic town of Marathon. By Tuesday, it had reached suburbs on the slopes of Mount Penteli, which is considered one of Athens’ last green lungs. A woman was found dead inside a burned business in the suburb of Vrilissia, about 10km from central Athens, on Monday. govt and politics"},{"score":0.953023,"label":"/law Greek firefighters continued to battle a wildfire that spread to the north of Athens for a third day on Tuesday described as ‘extremely dangerous’ by a government minister destroyed homes and businesses in the capital’s suburbs and forced the evacuation of thousands of people including from three hospitals and a children’s home Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Dimitris Aspiotis/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP/Getty Images You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Eighty-eight soldiers had been seconded in the battle to contain blazes with firefighting efforts A fire brigade spokesman told the Guardian 88 soldiers had been seconded in the battle to contain blazes with firefighting efforts now focused on Nea Penteli and surrounding areas. Penteli’s vice mayor Yannis Zounis said: “The fire has reached the central square of Pendeli and is near the yard of the old town hall.” Not since 1998 had a forest fire been as bad, he added. In affected areas residents could be seen with buckets and hoses trying to put out fires, while others fought back flames with olive branches. The drama of the battle was captured by Manos Hatzakis, a volunteer firefighter, who interviewed by Mega TV at 4:45 PM local time, said: “Many houses have gone up in flames. It’s a big fire.” Meanwhile, fire brigade spokesman Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said there had been 40 incidents of blazes reigniting since the “early morning hours.” The flare-ups were reported across the entire area of Attica where fires had been reported. Residents in eastern Attica should be prepared to be evacuated, he said. By mid-afternoon Greek police announced they had rescued 250 people from homes and other buildings deemed at risk. With growing numbers being evacuated the Greek Red Cross appealed for food and other materials to be gathered for the afflicted. Firefighters are battling to contain a massive blaze moving “like lightning” on the outskirts of Athens, with authorities evacuating people from towns, villages and hospitals as flames rip through trees, homes and cars. Propelled by gale-force winds, the wildfire had formed a 12-mile (20km) front by Monday despite “superhuman” efforts by forest commandos and volunteers overnight. Greece’s climate crisis and civil protection minister, Vassilis Kikilias, said firefighters were struggling in “dramatic conditions” that had been exacerbated by a prolonged drought. A spokesperson for the Greek fire service has said that “a total of 685 firefighters, supported by 27 forest commando teams, 190 vehicles, and volunteers, are operating with the assistance of all Civil Protection agencies.” Greece brought in the army to help extinguish the fires, with 88 soldiers seconded in the battle to contain blazes. Power cuts were reported in several parts of Athens. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, cutting short his summer break on the island of Crete, returned to Athens to oversee the response. Updated at 16.02 CEST12 Aug 202416.01 CESTGreece brings in army to help battle firesHelena SmithGreece has brought in the army to help extinguish fires raging out of control in eastern Attica A fire brigade spokesman told the Guardian 88 soldiers had been seconded in the battle to contain blazes with firefighting efforts now focused on Nea Penteli and surrounding areas Not since 1998 had a forest fire been as bad In affected areas residents could be seen with buckets and hoses trying to put out fires while others fought back flames with olive branches The drama of the battle was captured by Manos Hatzakis who interviewed by Mega TV at 4:45 PM local time fire brigade spokesman Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said there had been 40 incidents of blazes reigniting since the “early morning hours.” The flare-ups were reported across the entire area of Attica where fires had been reported Residents in eastern Attica should be prepared to be evacuated By mid-afternoon Greek police announced they had rescued 250 people from homes and other buildings deemed at risk With growing numbers being evacuated the Greek Red Cross appealed for food and other materials to be gathered for the afflicted 12 Aug 202415.18 CESTPower cuts were reported in several parts of Athens and also affected traffic lights at major junctions in the centre, the Associated Press reported. 12 Aug 202414.06 CESTHere are the latest images from Greece 12 Aug 202413.56 CESTSummaryHere’s a risk forecast map for tomorrow 12 Aug 202413.35 CESTMore evacuation orders 12 Aug 202413.12 CESTHelena SmithAn army of volunteers have also rushed to help extinguish wildfires raging north east of Athens said while police were going door-to-door urging people to evacuate homes – especially those in forested areas - not everyone was complying “We hope they understand the severity of the situation,” he told the station from the stricken area of Nea Makri Greek authorities send out emergency SMS to order evacuations in the event of natural disasters After the devastating loss of life six years ago when wild fires left 104 people dead in the seaside resort of Mati evacuating residential areas and resorts as soon as fires erupt Greek TV stations showed images of flames ripping through highly inflammable pine forests Firefighting efforts in Pendeli had not only been thwarted by the high winds but lack of visibility because of smoke to send in water dropping planes and helicopters that at 2 PM local time were tearing through the area 12 Aug 202412.22 CESTAreas damaged by wildfires in Greece over the past days. 12 Aug 202412.21 CESTSam JonesMeanwhile, in Spain: Police are investigating a businessman who is alleged to have spent 17 years stealing water from an aquifer in the southeastern region of Murcia to water the golf course at the resort he owned, causing environmental damage estimated at €65m. Officers from the Guardia Civil force began investigating after receiving reports that illegal wells have been furtively dug at night and then camouflaged. After overflying the area in a helicopter and investigating on the ground, they discovered 15 illegal wells and five springs that had run dry. The businessman is now under investigation for illegally extracting underground water and damaging natural resources and the environment. “During the investigation, officers discovered that more than two million cubic litres of water had been extracted from the aquifer each year,” the Guardia Civil said in a statement. “According to an expert report, the illegal activity had been going on for approximately 17 years and had caused environmental damage of €65m, a sum that includes the costs of restoration and the economic costs relating to the loss of ecosystemic services.” 12 Aug 202412.20 CESTAnd here’s the full statement from Greece’s minister for climate crisis and civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias. Since yesterday afternoon, the residents of northeastern Attica have been facing an extremely dangerous wildfire that we have been battling for over 20 hours under dramatic conditions. These challenges are due to the strong winds, prolonged drought, and the very difficult and rugged terrain of dense, unburnt forest. Currently, a fierce battle is being waged on two fronts: one in the area of ​​Kallitechnoupoli and the other in the area of ​​Grammatikos. The situation is improved in the areas of Dionysos, Varnavas, and Mikrochori. A total of 670 firefighters, 27 forest commando teams, 183 vehicles, and 32 aerial units (17 aircraft and 15 helicopters) are engaged in the operations. The winds remain strong today, raging at 7 Beaufort, and are expected to remain very strong in the coming hours. I want to be clear: The response to the initial outbreak in Varnavas, both on the ground and in the air, was immediate. The first aerial unit, was already in the air on a loaded patrol, and started operating just five minutes after the fire erupted. The first ground forces arrived within seven minutes. The forces were steadily reinforced, with the number of aerial units eventually reaching 29 and the firefighters exceeding 500. Unfortunately, the prediction from the Risk Assessment Committee, which placed Attica and other regions of Greece on red alert, has been confirmed. We will continue with all our strength until the fire is under control and every last hotspot is extinguished. 12 Aug 202412.19 CESTHere’s the latest evacuation order 12 Aug 202412.12 CESTHelena SmithFirefighters were battling to contain a massive blaze moving “like lightning” on the outskirts of Athens with authorities evacuating ever more people from towns villages and hospitals as flames ripped through trees the wildfire had assumed a 20-kilometre front by today despite “superhuman” efforts by forest commandos and volunteers to douse the inferno overnight By mid-morning orders for the evacuation of eleven villages and towns had been issued as Greek authorities rushed to move residents out of stricken areas cutting short his summer break on the island of Crete returned to Athens to oversee the response in a nation where memories of the 104 people who died when similar fires ripped through the seaside resort of Mati six years ago have not been forgotten The inferno broke out in the vicinity of Varnava sending gigantic clouds of ashen smoke billowing over Athens From the outset fire fighting efforts were hampered by winds that on Monday were predicted to reach 7 Beaufort and had put at least half of the country under “red alert” – the highest level of extreme fire risk in the country’s five-tier system due to the weather conditions Unfortunately their intensity is expected to increase in the coming hours and in any case citizens of the areas where the fire is developing must follow the directions of authorities a large fire is burning in the northern suburbs of Athens approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Athens and spread across Mount Penteli Thousands of people have been evacuated from the region and one person has been killed by the fire (3) The fire broke out due to a combination of extreme heat which have been exacerbated by climate change Greece has experienced record-breaking temperatures this summer The wildfire has severely impacted multiple areas, including several suburbs north of Athens The fire is burning within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the city center Other affected regions include the towns of Varnavas and Marathon The National Observatory of Athens and various residential and industrial areas have also been threatened by the fire with several homes and businesses reported destroyed thanks to the efforts of firefighters and a temporary reduction in wind speeds there are still many scattered hotspots that require ongoing attention Firefighters are working tirelessly to extinguish these areas with the support of reinforcements from several European countries the situation remains precarious due to the potential for winds to intensify again Authorities have issued multiple evacuation orders across more than 30 areas Critical facilities such as three hospitals and a children's home were evacuated as a precaution Evacuation centers and emergency services have been mobilized to assist those displaced by the fire Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. The wildfire has severely impacted multiple areas, including several suburbs north of Athens Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. [1] Papanikolaou N, et al. (2024, August 12). Thousands evacuated as wildfires reach Athens. BBC [2] Becatoros E, et al. (2024, August 13). Crews battle scattered fires in Athens suburbs, helped by calmer winds and reinforcements. Associated Press [3] Tstatsis A, et al. (2024, August 13). Greek wildfire eases in Athens suburbs for now, leaving one woman dead. Reuters the ultimate air purifier designed to provide exceptional particle and gas-phase filtration ensuring thorough and comprehensive air purification Perfectly suited for everyone including sensitive individuals this advanced purifier is the ideal solution for healthy indoor air quality IQAir Mask redefines what wearing a protective FFP2 mask should feel like Engineered to not only provide superior reduction for a wide range of airborne pollutants but also designed to provide the most comfortable wearing experience ever all-day protection FFP2-certified air pollution mask filters 95% of particles down to 0.3 microns The fire that broke out in Varnavas on Sunday and spread to northeastern Attica Region has shown improvement Fire Departments spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in an update on the fires late on Monday “Ground firefighting forces remain strong especially in the greater area of Penteli mountain and Marathonas Lake,” he added Responding about reports of a missing person in the fire region he said that the Fire Brigade Operations Center has not received such a call According to information by the Civil Protection on Monday evening firefighters had been focusing on the following main fronts: Daou Pentelis the Fire Department spokesperson had reported in a previous briefing that 30 alerts had been issued through 112 most recently for the evacuation of residents from New and Old Penteli as well as from Dionysos and Kalentzi Marathon It is also worth noting that the fires forced the evacuation of key facilities including the Penteli Children’s Hospital and the 414 Military Hospital the Monastery of Saint Ephraim in the Anatoli area and the Penteli Monastery were also evacuated Firefighters and authorities are expected to assess the extent of the damage and destruction at these sites in the coming days The devastating fires that have swept through Attica have not only destroyed homes and properties but have also claimed their first human life According to a report from Protothema.gr in a factory located in Patima Chalandriou The tragic incident occurred as the fire ravaged the area of Chalandri was a foreign national employed at a craft shop near the cemetery on Anapauses Street While all other employees managed to escape the burning building the woman was unaccounted for during the evacuation she was tragically unable to escape the flames in time Authorities are continuing their investigation to confirm the victim’s identity and the exact circumstances that led to this heartbreaking loss The Vatican announced on Monday that all telephone communication within its territory will be suspended during the upcoming conclave.. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered the keynote address at the International Scientific Conference “Restarting from Nicaea:.. The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate approved on October 4th the canonization of Eldress Sophia Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled by air to Antalya the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... 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them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A massive wildfire in Athens' northeastern suburbs on Monday forced thousands of residents to flee their homes and sparked a Greek government appeal for international help In unprecedented scenes in the Greek capital residents wearing masks against the choking smoke were desperately dousing their homes with water hoses in the leafy suburbs of Nea and Palaia Penteli and Vrilissia to protect them from fire "(It's) the first time ever the fire has come here," said Melina Kritseli a civil servant living in a two-storey white house in Patima Halandriou "I took my children to a friend's house to be safe," she told AFP as her husband hosed the ground and grass outside their house Television footage showed several charred cars and the roofs of stately homes burning as water-bombing helicopters roared overhead Smoke drifted through central Athens as thick grey clouds engulfed Mount Pentelikon which is known for yielding the marble used in the Acropolis and other ancient buildings The fire gutted a sports hall in Nea Penteli and many homes and businesses in the surrounding area Greece's foremost institute monitoring natural hazards The Observatory website meteo.gr said 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) had been devastated by midday Monday Greece on Monday formally called for EU assistance "The EU civil protection mechanism was activated upon request of the Greek authorities," EU spokesman Balazs Ujvari said in a statement the Czech Republic and Romania were sending units to help "We stand with Greece as it battles devastating fires," EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had earlier cut short a vacation to Crete and returned to the capital Sunday The wildfire started on Sunday afternoon in the town of Varnavas some 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of Athens it grew to a 30-kilometre long frontline of flames more than 25 metres (80 feet) high in places "I heard my animals bleating and dying," Dimitris Megagiannis The fire department said over 700 firefighters with nearly 200 fire engines were trying to contain the fire but dozens of water-bombing aircraft had to retire after dark Authorities opened the Olympic stadium in northern Athens and other sports facilities to house thousands of people evacuated from the path of the blaze Three major hospitals have been placed on standby One firefighter suffered serious burns and another was hospitalised with breathing trouble fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said The health ministry said 66 people had been treated for injuries related to the fire since Sunday Several small clinics and hospitals in the area followed suit "Civil protection forces battled hard throughout the night the fire evolved rapidly," Vathrakogiannis said The wind had rekindled the fire in 40 different locations on Monday The destruction revived memories of the disaster in Mati the coastal area near Marathon where 104 people died in July 2018 in a tragedy later blamed on evacuation delays and errors The summer wildfire season in Greece this year has seen dozens of daily blazes after the Mediterranean country recorded its warmest winter and the hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960 The National Observatory said temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) are expected in Athens on Tuesday with winds of up to 39 kilometres (24 miles) per hour Follow the instructions of the authorities," said SMS messages sent to people in the Attica region Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias issued a warning Saturday that half the country faced a high risk of fires due to high temperatures On Monday he said the fire had spread even though a water-bombing aircraft reached the area within five minutes all of us," said fireman Marinos Peristeropoulos "The fire spread very quickly because of the strong wind," he told AFP near one of the hotspots in Grammatiko Scientists say that human-induced fossil fuel emissions are worsening the length frequency and intensity of heatwaves across the world Rising temperatures are leading to longer wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt in the flames according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Other parts of Europe are also struggling with high temperatures temperatures were forecast to reach 38C Monday and remain around 36C this week Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended the Divine Liturgy held at the Holy Church of St the Metochion of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegion Monastery of St The Divine Liturgy was performed by the parish priest of the Metochion who has been ordained by the Ecumenical Patriarch and serves at the Representative Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Athens Eleftherios addressed the Patriarch and offered him an icon of St who was canonized during the days of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Archbishop Damianos of Sinai was also in attendance the Ecumenical Patriarch departed for Constantinople Source: fosfanariou.gr / Photos: Aristides Viketos The residents of three more settlements on Mount Penteli, north of Athens, were told to evacuate as a large wildfire that broke out in the semi-mountainous area on Tuesday afternoon approached houses The emergency 112 alert was issued to the residents of Anthousa a similar alert was sent to the residents of Daou Penteli Dioni and Kallitechnioupoli received a text alert by the emergency number 112 warning them to be on standby for any further instructions by the civil protection and the fire brigade one moving towards the mountain and a second heading towards the settlements of Drafi and Nea Penteli Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox A large wildfire broke out on the slopes of Mount Penteli forcing the residents of a semi-mountainous settlement to evacuate to avoid the fast-moving flames the flames were 500 meters away from Drafi Residents of Daou Penteli were told to evacuate towards nearby Pallini on Tuesday afternoon a researcher at the National Observatory of Athens’ Penteli branch announced on his Facebook that the staff was leaving the premises as the “forest fire was out of control.” Efforts by 105-strong firefighting force – including 28 Romanian firefighters – 11 water bombers and five helicopters was hampered by gale-force winds that fanned the blaze opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.