A devastating wildfire that broke out on the outskirts of Athens this Thursday has forced the evacuation of five towns, as firefighters battle an uncontrollable blaze that has already destroyed multiple homes.
“The fire is still not under control. It has swept through residential areas, and we don’t yet know how many homes have been affected. The winds are very strong and are pushing the flames toward Jarakas in the south,” warned Dimitris Loukas, mayor of Lavreotiki, in an interview with Newsit.gr.
More than 160 firefighters, supported by 64 vehicles, 12 planes, and 12 water-dropping helicopters, are working to contain the fire near the coastal village of Thimari, located about 35 kilometers southeast of the Greek capital, according to a fire department spokesperson speaking to EFE.
Following the outbreak, authorities ordered the evacuation of Thimari and nearby Turkolimano. Greek broadcaster SKAI reported that the flames swept through Thimari, leaving several homes either destroyed or severely damaged.
Strong wind gusts have complicated firefighting efforts, pushing the flames east and south and prompting additional evacuations in three more towns, including the coastal area of Jarakas. Authorities estimate that the five affected communities are home to over 1,000 permanent residents, but since the region is a popular summer destination for Athenians, the actual number of evacuees could be significantly higher.
Police teams have been going door to door to ensure no one is left behind. In some cases, officers were forced to evacuate around 40 people who refused to leave their homes voluntarily.
With the fire threatening to reach the coastline, the Hellenic Coast Guard has deployed vessels to assist with potential sea evacuations, fire department spokesman Vasilis Varthakoyannis said.
At the same time, a special investigation team has been dispatched to the area following reports from residents suggesting the fire may have been caused by human activity, according to SKAI.
Greece is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching around 40°C on Thursday and forecasts predicting up to 42°C on Friday. The extreme conditions have placed the greater Athens area and several Aegean islands at level four—on a five-level scale—for wildfire risk, with the heatwave expected to last through the weekend.
Elsewhere, on the island of Crete, a firefighter sustained minor injuries to his hand while battling a blaze near the village of Tsigouna, which has since been brought under control. On the eastern Aegean island of Chios, 450 firefighters remain on the ground to prevent a flare-up of a major fire that burned more than 4,100 hectares of forest and farmland between Sunday and Wednesday. Authorities have arrested a woman suspected of starting that fire by discarding a cigarette.
In total, 45 wildfires were reported across Greece in the past 24 hours, most of which were quickly extinguished, according to the fire department.
Wildfires are a recurring threat in Greece’s hot, dry summers. In 2018, a catastrophic blaze in the coastal town of Mati, east of Athens, claimed over 100 lives, many of whom were trapped in their homes or drowned trying to escape the flames by sea.
