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Massive Greek wildfire destroys homes as residents near Athens are urged to flee
By FOX Weather,
5 hours ago
Hundreds of firefighters in Greece are working to contain a massive wildfire that ignited near Athens over the weekend, and officials are pleading with residents to flee as intense flames devour homes and scorch trees that line the historic landscape.
The Greek Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has been providing constant updates since the wildfires began and said strong winds, prolonged drought conditions and the layout of the terrain are making the work to contain and extinguish the flames extremely difficult and dangerous.
Nearly 700 firefighters, 27 forest commando teams, 190 vehicles and volunteers are all working to contain a massive fire that broke out Sunday afternoon near Varnava, northeast of Athens.
In addition, bulldozers have been deployed across Attica, the region of Greece that includes Athens, to create fire breaks, and at least 33 aircraft are relentlessly dumping water on the fire.
A cloud of smoke over the Parthenon temple in Athens during wildfires in Greece on Aug. 12, 2024. Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images A house burning in in Varnavas, north of Athens on Aug. 11, 2024. Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images Volunteers standing in front of a small pocket of fire near Penteli on Aug. 12, 2024. Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images A man running from a fire in northern Athens. AP Photo/Michael Varaklas
Greek police officer inspecting a house to evacuate residents during the wildfire in Penteli on Aug. 12, 2024. Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images A car burning at a business in northern Athens. AP Photo/Aggelos Barai Greek firefighters enter a field through a fence as they try to extinguish a wildfire near Penteli on August 12, 2024. AFP via Getty Images The Greek Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has been giving updates since the wildfires began and said that strong winds, prolonged drought conditions and the layout of the terrain make containing the flames extremely hard. AP
Officials are pleading with residents to flee as intense flames devour homes and scorch trees that line the historic landscape. AFP via Getty Images An elderly man is evacuated from his home by Greek police officers during a wildfire near Penteli on August 12, 2024. AFP via Getty Images Nearly 700 firefighters, 27 forest commando teams, 190 vehicles and volunteers are all working to contain a massive fire that broke out Sunday afternoon near Varnava, northeast of Athens. AP
Hospitals in the region are also on alert, and at least 15 people, including firefighters, have been injured, according to officials .
Communities across the region have also been told to be prepared for the possible evacuation due to the fires, with residents in several towns already told to flee.
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