VARNAVA/ATHENS — Residents fled their homes Sunday in the village of Varnava near Athens as fire crews struggled to contain a fast-moving wildfire fueled by hot, windy weather that sent smoke clouds over the Greek capital. Furthermore, the uncontrolled blaze has overwhelmed local resources. Transitioning from calm to crisis, the Greek wildfire evacuation plans are being tested. #GreekWildfireEvacuation
More than 250 firefighters, supported by 12 water-bombing planes and seven helicopters, battled the blaze. The fire broke out at 3 p.m. and quickly reached a village 35 km (20 miles) north of Athens.
“The village was surrounded in no time, in no time. It’s really windy,” resident Katerina Fylaktou told Reuters. “It started from one point and suddenly the whole village was surrounded,” she said.
Authorities sent evacuation alerts for five nearby areas. By early evening, thick brown smoke hung over much of Athens and reached the island of Aegina to its south.
Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across Greece this summer, following its hottest June and July. Scientists link these fires to hotter, drier weather caused by global climate change.
A European Commission report in April said the 2023 wildfire season in Europe was among the worst this century. Just this month, fires burned amid extreme heat in Spain and the Balkans as well as Greece.
Greek fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said the Varnava blaze spread due to gale force winds. #GreekWildfireEvacuation
Flames as high as 25 meters (82 feet) swallowed up trees and shrubland.
In addition, the situation remains dire as the wildfire continues to rage. The Greek wildfire evacuation response is critical in mitigating the damage. As firefighters battle the flames, residents are urged to follow evacuation orders promptly.
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