Greek firefighters are battling a significant wildfire threatening homes near the coastal town of Palaia Fokaias, located 40 kilometers south of Athens. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for residents in four nearby settlements.
Assisted by eight aircraft and five helicopters, 90 firefighters have been deployed to the Palaia Fokaias area. They’re working to extinguish the blaze, which has spread rapidly due to strong winds, damaging homes. The exact number of affected houses remains unclear.
Greek television footage showed helicopters dropping water as large plumes of smoke filled the area. Greece is currently experiencing high temperatures, reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius.
In recent years, Greece has faced significant economic and environmental impacts from frequent wildfires and floods. Scientists attribute the increased frequency of these events to climate change. The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros compensating citizens and farmers for damages caused by extreme weather and has invested in new firefighting equipment to combat increasingly challenging summer fires amidst high temperatures. This year, Greece has increased its firefighter numbers to a record 18,000, anticipating a difficult fire season.
