After a few days with temperatures above 40 degrees and a longer dry period, several large forest and forest fires broke out in the wide vicinity of the Greek capital Athens, which are now spreading quickly due to the strong wind. The authorities have already ordered the evacuation of several seaside resorts. Several summer camps for children were also affected.
After a relatively rainy and cool spring, these are the first major vegetation fires in Greece this year. “We are fighting about 20 wildfires and forest fires that also threaten residential areas,” a spokesperson for the fire service said on state radio on Monday. Dozens of planes and helicopters are in use. Due to the heavy smoke development, the Patras-Athens highway near the city of Loutraki was temporarily closed.
Monks from a monastery brought to safety
According to the Greek media, seven firefighting planes, four helicopters and 150 firefighters fought the flames. They also include a team of about 30 Romanian firefighters. The flames quickly ate through the dry bushes and spread to the seaside towns of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida, where many holiday homes are located. Dense smoke also disrupted traffic on the roads near the town of Kalyvia. Authorities asked residents to leave the area. The monks of the local monastery were taken to safety as a precaution.
Just a short cool down
On Monday it was largely bearable around 35 degrees nationwide, but before that the thermometers had indicated 44 degrees over the weekend in Crete and Athens, among others. The next heat is just around the corner, meteorologists said. Temperatures will rise again from Wednesday and it will be above 40 degrees in many places next weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach 44 degrees in the metropolis of Athens, among others.
Source: Krone
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