Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 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. Police responded to an attempted burglary early Sunday morning at the home of a well-known TV presenter in the northern Athenian neighborhood of Vrilissia. At 7.50 a.m., officers on patrol spotted two suspects exiting the property. One was arrested on the scene, while the other fled in a vehicle. A chase ensued, and the second suspect was captured on foot in Chalandri. A police officer suffered minor injuries during the pursuit. Authorities are searching for the driver of the getaway car. Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox. 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 A fire that erupted northeast of Athens on Sunday has spread to Mount Penteli prompting the evacuation of several settlements and has sent thick smoke clouds over the city Civil Protection issued an emergency 112 alert to residents of Palaia Penteli advised Nea Penteli residents to evacuate towards Melissa and those in Palaia Penteli to move towards Vrilissia and Damarasi in Rafina to evacuate towards Marathonos Avenue another alert was issued for residents in Daou Penteli and Agios Spiridonas Residents of Anthoussa were advised to be on standby with a message sent at 5.45 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 the result of a lifetime of hard work,” a Rapendosa resident Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox After two intense days of wind on Sunday and Monday that fueled wildfires in the suburbs of Athens, firefighters are starting to get the upper hand on the wildfire that started near Lake Marathon according to The Associated Press. The fire burnt multiple homes and businesses fire department official discovered one deceased individual With crews fighting the wildfire that at one point had flames reported as hight as 80 feet firefighters were attacking the fire from the ground The Associated Press also reported by Monday evening that the winds subsided late Monday giving officials hope of making progress on the fire it was reported that June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece which also recorded its warmest winter ever “The Marathon area was the site of a famous battle between Greeks and Persians in 490 B.C. and hosts a museum and archaeological site, but there were no immediate reports of damage from the blaze to either” according to The Associated Press. Here’s a look at some of photo coverage from The Associated Press. Greek officials say there is no longer an active firefront threatening the capital As residents of Athens' suburbs return to their burned-out homes many are criticizing the authorities' response to the disaster as inadequate 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 situation in parts of northeastern Attica remains extremely difficult due to the wildfires that have been raging since yesterday according to an update from Fire Service spokesman Colonel Vassilis Vathrakogiannis “Reignitions and flare-ups are continuous constantly creating new hotspots and spreading rapidly firefighters are dealing with fronts in Daou Penteli while conditions have improved in Afidnes and Kalentzi.” 702 firefighters are working with 27 forest command teams with the support of all civil protection agencies namely 17 planes and 18 helicopters (including 3 for coordination) “It is important to emphasize that the fire perimeter is large and in many cases the aerial assets are not visible due to their dispersion and dense smoke,” he said He also noted that 30 alerts have been issued via 112 the latest for the evacuation of residents from the settlements of New and Old Penteli as well as from Dionysos and Kalentzi in Marathon to safer locations he mentioned that as a precautionary measure the Amalia Fleming General Hospital in Melissia was evacuated and the patients were transferred to the “Pamakaristos” Hospital Vathrakogiannis highlighted that in response to Greece’s request for assistance from the European Civil Protection Mechanism through the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the Czech Republic has sent 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles he said that assistance from Spain and Turkey is expected to be finalized The devastating wildfire engulfed the historic Monastery of Panagia Axion Esti a cherished institution of the Archdiocese of Athens located in the Varnava area with the fire rapidly advancing through residential areas and causing significant damage the extent of the destruction became apparent revealing damage to the monastery’s grounds The Monastery of Panagia Axion Esti is of exceptional cultural and religious importance housing valuable treasures and ecclesiastical relics belonging to the Archdiocese of Athens and its associated institutions Despite the swift response from the fire brigade which deployed the first firefighting planes within five minutes of the fire’s onset and ground forces within ten minutes the strong winds exacerbated the situation turning the blaze into a massive wildfire with multiple fronts the Civil Protection Authority issued evacuation orders to residents of nearby settlements The fire continues to pose a significant threat to both the historic monastery and the surrounding communities The Monasteries of Saint Ephraim in Nea Makri and Penteli have been evacuated as a massive uncontrollable wildfire continues to rage across Northern Attica has created a front spanning over 20 kilometers with shifting winds complicating firefighting efforts A force of 510 firefighters has been deployed to combat the blaze which has proven difficult to contain due to the unpredictable wind conditions a total of 32 aerial firefighting vehicles—comprising 17 helicopters and 15 aircraft—are actively engaged in operations across multiple fire fronts in the region efforts are focused on safeguarding both lives and properties as well as the preservation of these historic monastic sites the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website Greece’s worst wildfire of the year has killed one person and continued to burn on the outskirts of the capital Athens although lighter winds and firefighting efforts have helped reduce its intensity Hundreds of firefighters backed by fire engines and water bombing aircraft battled the blaze that broke out on Sunday near the village of Varnavas 35km north of Athens and torched homes choking the city with smoke and ash and stirring panic in neighbourhoods that had not seen such a fire so close to the centre in decades The cause of the wildfire was not yet determined Winds were expected to pick up again later in the day on Tuesday and the country will remain on high fire alert until Thursday with strong winds and temperatures forecast to reach up to 40C “The overall picture looks improved but there are still many fronts in various areas,” said a fire brigade official Wildfires have been a common feature of Greek summers for years but climate change has brought hotter weather and less rain The southern European country experienced its warmest winter on record this year and was on track for its hottest summer The worsening situation was mirrored across southern Europe The Greek fire left in its wake abandoned homes Local newspaper Proto Thema said the damage spanned 100 square kilometres and included 100 homes Greece has activated the European Civil protection mechanism and is expecting assistance from France Italy and the Czech Republic with aircraft and firefighters More than 30 areas were forced to evacuate with power cuts in parts of the wider Athens region Passenger ferries heading to the port of Rafina northeast of the capital were diverted Police have helped evacuate more than 250 people and some residents spent the night in shelters 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 ‘Exhausted’ firefighters have been working ‘at full tilt for months’ News | World Satellite images of East Attica in Greece have revealed the scale of devestation after a wildfire on Monday killed at least one person and forced locals to flee their homes The Greek government has appealed for international help as swirling winds hampered efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes in Athens’ northeastern suburbs The fire department said shortly after midnight that firefighters found a body in a burnt building in the suburb of Vrilissia Authorities said at least 18 people were injured mostly due to smoke inhalation as the blaze reached outlying sections of a suburb Greece's National Observatory said late Monday that satellite images show the blaze has affected about 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) The blaze started Sunday near Lake Marathon, about 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of Athens coursed across Mount Pendeli and reached the capital's northern suburbs It burnt several homes and businesses in the city suburbs and in communities near the lake Greece went on high alert but by late night Monday a drop in winds offered hope and officials reported progress against the massive fast-moving blaze that spawned flames over 25 metres (80 feet) high Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said firefighters were longer battling a single front but "many active localised blazes," mostly around Marathon and Pendeli The Marathon area was the site of a famous battle between Greeks and Persians in 490 BC and hosts a museum and archaeological site but there were no immediate reports of damage from the blaze to either Greek firefighters were to be boosted by forces from other countries as early as Tuesday after Athens sought international assistance activating Europe's mutual civil protection mechanism Sunrises and sunsets in Santorini's latest luxury hotel SandBlu Ukraine appoints new foreign minister as war with Russia enters critical phase Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being set on fire Mountaineer Bonita Norris reveals how to overcome everyday obstacles A blanket of smoke and ash shrouded central Athens while power cuts hit parts of the Greek capital and affected traffic lights at major central junctions France would provide a helicopter and 200 firefighters with 28 fire trucks Italy two water-dropping planes and the Czech Republic 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles while Serbia and Romania were also readying aid Neighbouring Turkey's Foreign Ministry said it would dispatch two firefighting planes and a helicopter while Spain was also finalising reinforcements to send to Greece June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece 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 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 and armed forces personnel were battling the flames 17 water-dropping planes and 16 helicopters Three Athens hospitals were on heightened alert while paramedics and ambulances treated five firefighters for light burns and breathing problems The police said 380 police officers assisted 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 kilometres (9 miles) from the heart of Athens where the famed Acropolis and other archeological sites are located — typically have thousands of residents Wildfires on Monday also hit neighbouring North Macedonia and Albania which have had high summer temperatures and strong winds Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary One person has died as fierce wildfires spread in the suburbs of Athens in Greece on Monday was found inside a shop in the town of Vrilissia a source from the fire service told the BBC Thousands of people have been evacuated after firefighters warned that homes with fires expected to continue into Tuesday Fire service spokesman Colonel Vassilios Vathrakogiannis said while there was no longer a single active fire front in the north-eastern Attica region there were still "many active localised blazes" mostly around the towns of Marathon and Penteli Colonel Vathrakogiannis added that conditions for new fires remained dangerous not only for Tuesday Greece has just experienced its hottest June and July on record 199 fire engines and 35 waterbombing aircraft have been involved in efforts to extinguish the fires which first broke out on Sunday afternoon around 35km north of the Greek capital Aircraft were forced to land as night set in on Monday but ground operations continued through the night Greece's National Observatory said on Monday evening satellite images showed that the fire had already affected around 100,000 acres (405 sq km) and one of the sites of the National Observatory was at one stage feared to be under threat and elsewhere in the area a number of explosions were heard most likely from fuel tanks and residential gas cylinders European nations announced that they would be providing assistance to Greece after its government activated the EU's mutual civil protection mechanism Italy is providing two planes while France and Serbia are providing one helicopter each the Czech Republic and Romania are sending further vehicles Neighbouring Turkey is also preparing to send two planes and a helicopter European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would "stand with Greece as it battles devastating fires" Officials said fires broke out in 40 different locations on Monday and that some areas saw flames as high as 25m people in Athens have been wearing facemasks to protect themselves from the smoke Climate change increases the risk of the hot dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions This story was first published by the BBC. Thousands of residents are being evacuated from their homes due to the wildfire Greek PM says the past month's weather has been "exceptionally difficult" with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds It is one of the worst such episodes to hit Greece since 2018 Eighteen bodies have been found in a forested area of northern Greece hit by wildfires for the past four days World RSS Follow RNZ News A woman has died as wildfires spread across Athens’ suburbs prompting mass evacuations and international aid A fierce wildfire in the suburbs of Athens has claimed the life of one person and forced thousands to evacuate as the blaze continues to threaten homes was discovered inside a shop in the town of Vrilissia have spread rapidly across the north-eastern Attica region 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 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 and one of the National Observatory sites was feared to be under threat likely caused by fuel tanks and residential gas cylinders some residents of Penteli chose to stay behind We feel great sadness and anger,” said 24-year-old Marina Kalogerakou as she attempted to douse a burning tree stump “Thirty years I was building all this 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 while France and Serbia are sending one helicopter each and Romania are dispatching additional vehicles 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 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 Easily access major global news with a strong focus on Africa we like to accentuate positive stories about Africa across all genres including Politics We broadcast 24 hours a day from our studios in London and New York and can be seen here in the UK and across Europe on the Sky platform (Sky channel 516) Freeview (Channel 136) as well as in the USA on the Centric channel and also on the Hot bird platform © 2023 Arise News - Part of the Arise Media Group The US star of Panathinaikos basketball team has gotten into trouble just hours after celebrating winning the championship The basketball player had a heated verbal incident with his wife and they ended up at the Vrilissa police station the woman stated that she did not wish to press charges a case file was formed against him for domestic violence procedure which is being followed ex officio He was released on the order of the public prosecutor and the case will be taken to the regular courts It is noted that it was initially known that Nan was to be brought to court the information says that the basketball player after the adventure at the police station of Vrilissia It should be noted that offenses falling under the provisions of the legislation on domestic violence are punished ex officio and not at the victim’s request The complaint may even be made by a third person (e.g a neighbour who heard an incident) and the police are obliged to intervene and form a case file based on the testimony Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr