Greece’s civil protection minister warned on Saturday that half of the country was at high risk of fires until at least August 15 due to high temperatures.
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Greece is battling several forest fires on Sunday, August 11, with smoke covering part of the capital Athens, amid a warning of extreme weather conditions for the rest of the week. As of Sunday afternoon, firefighters have managed to control 33 of the 40 fires that broke out in the past 24 hours, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesman for the fire service, told reporters.
Greece’s civil protection minister warned on Saturday that half of the country was at high risk of fires until at least August 15 due to high temperatures, gusty winds and drought.
In the eastern Attica province, a fire in the town of Varnavas is raging through an area of scattered houses, sending out so much smoke that the capital Athens was partly engulfed in its cloud of smoke Sunday afternoon. Fire officials said a 250-strong force with 67 vehicles, 12 planes and seven helicopters had been deployed, supported by soldiers who were mobilized. In and around Varnavas, residents were ordered to evacuate.
Another fire broke out earlier Sunday afternoon in Megara, western Attica, triggering an evacuation alert. Near Thessaloniki, a fire in Langadas was partially brought under control.
