On Sunday, residents in two areas near Athens were ordered to evacuate as dozens of firefighters struggled to control fires fueled by strong winds and high temperatures. In the vicinity of Varnava, approximately 35km north of the capital, over 190 firefighters were attempting to contain a blaze that had encroached upon residential properties by late afternoon. Their efforts were supported by 40 fire trucks, 11 water-bombing aircraft, and five helicopters.
Additionally, fire crews were combating a fire in a forested area near Megara, west of Athens, which resulted in thick brown smoke enveloping parts of the city. Several other regions in Greece were on high alert for fire risk on Sunday and Monday. This summer has seen hundreds of wildfires erupt across the country, which experienced its warmest winter and hottest June and July on record. Similar to other Mediterranean regions, scientists have attributed the increasingly hot and dry weather to climate change.
Kostas Lagouvardos, research director at the Athens Observatory, emphasized the critical nature of the coming days. He explained on state broadcaster ERT that the prolonged drought and sustained high temperatures are what make the situation particularly perilous.
