Thousands of people living around Athens were evacuated on Monday, August 12, including from the historic town of Marathon, as a large fire approached the Greek capital despite “heroic” efforts to bring it under control, officials said.
Authorities have ordered at least five more communities to evacuate and two hospitals in northeastern Athens, after previously ordering the evacuation of residents from eight villages, including Marathon, on Sunday. Marathon’s mayor, Stregios Tsirkas, described the town—named after the famous long-distance race—as facing a “biblical catastrophe.”
A 30-kilometer-long wall of flames, some areas reaching up to 25 meters high, is advancing toward Athens, according to public broadcaster ERT.
Eight people have been hospitalized with breathing difficulties, and authorities have opened the Olympic Stadium in northern Athens to shelter evacuees.
“Civil protection forces have been working throughout the night, and despite heroic efforts, the fire is spreading rapidly,” said firefighter spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.
The destruction from the fire recalls the July 2018 blaze in Mati, which claimed 104 lives. It was later reported that the delay in evacuation orders contributed to the tragedy.
This summer’s fire season in Greece has resulted in dozens of fires daily, with the country experiencing its hottest winter and the warmest June and July since records began in 1960.
Temperatures around Athens are expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius on Monday, with winds blowing up to 50 kilometers per hour.
More than 670 firefighters with 183 vehicles and 32 planes have been deployed to combat the fires.
A day earlier, Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias warned that the country is at high risk due to high temperatures, strong winds, and severe drought.
Scientists have noted that fossil fuel emissions are worsening the duration, frequency, and intensity of heatwaves worldwide.
Other parts of the world are also facing fires, with some regions in Europe expected to experience high temperatures this week.
