Wildfires rage on the outskirts of Athens, prompting massive evacuations

Aug 13, 2024

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Wildfires on the outskirts of Athens, Greece, prompted urgent evacuations as the fires killed at least one person and forced thousands from their homes. So far, the fire burned about 100,000 acres. Authorities continue to evacuate affected areas as the fires spread.

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Officials reported that fires started in 40 different locations on Monday, Aug. 12, with flames reaching as high as 82 feet in some areas.

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On Tuesday, smoke that covered Athens cleared, but a persistent haze remains. Firefighters, battling fatigue, are focusing on extinguishing hotspots, particularly in the northeastern suburbs of Marathon and Penteli. The response is substantial, with more than 700 firefighters, nearly 200 vehicles and 35 aircraft deployed to combat the flames.

Other European countries sent planes, helicopters and additional resources to help Greece combat the wildfires.

Concerns are growing that Greece might face another catastrophic wildfire season similar to last summer. Those fires severely damaged multiple regions and Athens’ heavily forested national park, known as the city’s “lungs.”

CNN reported a rise in missing persons incidents in Greece, potentially tied to the extreme heat.

Several tourists who vanished in June while hiking were later found dead. Authorities are urging the public to recognize the serious risks associated with the intense heat.

Tags: Extreme weather, Greece, Severe Weather, Wildfire

[KARAH RUCKER]

WILDFIRES ARE RAVAGING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ATHENS, GREECE, PROMPTING URGENT EVACUATIONS IN SURROUNDING AREAS. THESE BLAZES HAVE CLAIMED AT LEAST ONE LIFE AND DRIVEN THOUSANDS FROM THEIR HOMES, SCORCHING ROUGHLY 100-THOUSAND ACRES IN THEIR WAKE. AUTHORITIES ARE URGENTLY EVACUATING AFFECTED AREAS AS THE FIRES CONTINUE TO SPREAD.

AS THE SMOKE THAT SHROUDED ATHENS LIFTED ON TUESDAY, A PERSISTENT HAZE CONTINUES TO HANG IN THE AIR. FIREFIGHTERS, BATTLING FATIGUE, ARE FOCUSING ON EXTINGUISHING HOTSPOTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTH-EASTERN SUBURBS OF MARATHON AND PENTELI. THE SCALE OF THE RESPONSE IS SUBSTANTIAL, INVOLVING MORE THAN 700 FIREFIGHTERS, NEARLY 200 VEHICLES, AND 35 AIRCRAFT DEPLOYED TO COMBAT THE RELENTLESS FLAMES.

EUROPE IS LENDING A HAND, WITH SEVERAL NATIONS DISPATCHING PLANES, HELICOPTERS, AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST GREECE IN COMBATING THESE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES.

THERE ARE GROWING CONCERNS THAT GREECE MIGHT FACE ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE SEASON SIMILAR TO LAST SUMMER, WHEN FIRES SEVERELY DAMAGED MULTIPLE REGIONS AND ATHENS’ HEAVILY-FORESTED NATIONAL PARK, KNOWN AS THE CITY’S “LUNGS.”

ADDITIONALLY, CNN REPORTS A RISE IN MISSING PERSONS INCIDENTS IN GREECE, POTENTIALLY TIED TO THE EXTREME HEAT.

SEVERAL TOURISTS WHO VANISHED IN JUNE WHILE HIKING WERE LATER DISCOVERED DECEASED. AUTHORITIES ARE URGING THE PUBLIC TO RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUS RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTENSE HEAT.

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