Officials are evacuating inhabitants from a severely affected area barely 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of the country’s capital, Athens, as Greece fights five major wildfires nationwide. In order to combat the expanding fire, Greece asked the European Union for help, and the stench of burning wood reached as far as central Athens. There is a severe heatwave during the time of the continuing emergency. Sunday is predicted to see highs of 44°C (111.2°F), and the intense heat is anticipated to last for the most of the weekend.
Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis stated, “We have injured firefighters, human lives were put at risk, properties have been burned, and forest areas have been destroyed.
Burning heat and strong winds have fueled the fires. Six more firefighting planes have been formally requested by Greece from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Residents in Drosopigi, Kryoneri, and Agios Stefanos were forced to evacuate after a fire that began near Afidnes on Saturday quickly spread throughout Attica, the area that includes Athens.
The central front has been contained, according to the fire department, but isolated hotspots are still burning. There are still more than 200 firemen working in the area, assisted by water-bombing planes and helicopters.
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