Thousands flee as wildfires bear down on Greek capital

Wildfires near Athens force mass evacuations as flames approach, with firefighters battling 30-kilometre-long fronts.

Thousands evacuated near Athens as strong winds push wildfires closer to the city, threatening historic areas like Marathon.

A 30-kilometre long frontline of fires, more than 25 metres high in places, was moving towards Athens, the ERT public broadcaster reported. One firefighter suffered serious burns, another was hospitalised with breathing trouble and 13 other people were treated for milder respiratory problems, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.“Because of the direction of the wind we have decided on a precautionary evacuation,” its mayor Simos Roussos told ERT. “The fire is very close.”

“We are facing a biblical catastrophe,” said Marathon’s mayor Stergios Tsirkas. “Our whole town is engulfed in flames,” he told the Skai television channel.Smoke drifted through central Athens as thick grey clouds engulfed Mount Pentelikon, which looms above the capital and is known for producing the marble used in the Acropolis and other ancient buildings.

Temperatures around Athens are forecast to peak at 39 degrees Celsius on Monday, with wind gusts of up to 50 kilometres per hour.“Forest fire near you. Follow the instructions of the authorities,” said SMS messages sent to people in the Attica region, indicating in which direction to flee.

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TheCitizen_News /  🏆 6. in ZA

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