PICTORIAL: 1 Dies, Thousands Evacuated As Deadly Wildfire Ravages Athens

A fierce wildfire raging in the suburbs of Athens, Greece, has claimed the life of at least one person and forced thousands to evacuate as the blaze continues to threaten homes, businesses, and schools.

The body, believed to be that of a woman, was discovered inside a shop in the town of Vrilissia, northern Athens, according to a source from the Fire Service.

The wildfires, which ignited on Sunday afternoon, have rapidly spread across the north-eastern Attica region, encompassing parts of the Greek capital. Despite efforts to contain the blaze, Fire Service spokesman, Col. Vassilios Vathrakogiannis, warned on Monday evening that while there was no single active fire front, “many active localised blazes” persisted, especially around the towns of Marathon and Penteli.

The situation remains precarious, with conditions expected to remain dangerous through Tuesday and further into the week. Over 700 firefighters, supported by 199 fire engines and 35 waterbombing aircraft, have been deployed to battle the flames. So far, two firefighters have been treated for burns sustained during their efforts.

The fire has already scorched approximately 100,000 acres of land, as revealed by satellite images from Greece’s National Observatory. In the Penteli area, known for its wooded and hilly terrain, the fires forced the evacuation of three hospitals and threatened one of the National Observatory’s sites. A timber factory was also destroyed, and explosions were reported in the region, likely caused by fuel tanks and residential gas cylinders.

As the flames continued to rage, some residents of Penteli refused to abandon their homes, choosing instead to fight the fire on their own. “It hurts. We have grown up in the forest. We feel great sadness and anger,” said 24-year-old Marina Kalogerakou as she attempted to extinguish a burning tree stump.

Others, like 81-year-old Vassilis Stroubelis, expressed a deep sense of loss. “Thirty years I was building all this. Thirty years and bam,” he said, standing in the doorway of his damaged home.

In response to Greece’s activation of the EU’s mutual civil protection mechanism, several European nations have stepped in to assist. Italy is providing two planes, while France and Serbia are sending one helicopter each. Spain, the Czech Republic, and Romania are dispatching additional vehicles, personnel, and aid. Turkey has also announced plans to send two planes and a helicopter to support the firefighting efforts.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed the EU’s solidarity with Greece, stating on social media that the EU would “stand with Greece as it battles devastating fires.”

The wildfires came as Greece endured its hottest June and July on record, with climate change exacerbating the conditions that fuel such devastating blazes. The planet has already warmed by approximately 1.1°C since the industrial era, and temperatures are expected to continue rising unless significant reductions in global emissions are achieved.

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