Strong gusts of wind sent smoke towards the centre of the Greek capital, where the smell of burning wood could be detected. Authorities are warning of risks in other areas.
A forest fire broke out this Saturday on Mount Parnitha, near Athens, while authorities warn of the very high risk of fires of this type breaking out in six regions of Greece. 40 forest fires have broken out across Greece since dawn, as announced by the firefighting services.
Firefighters spokesman Vasilis Vathrakogiannis told reporters that reinforcements were being sent from other parts of Greece to help control the blaze around the capital. “Overall, the prevailing conditions are difficult and dangerous,” he said.
In addition to the wind speed, which at times exceeded 100 kilometres per hour (km/h), the density of the high-voltage power line poles also made it difficult for firefighting aircraft, of which there were only four, to intervene.
There are currently twelve helicopters in operation, Vathrakogiannis added.
The spokesperson also praised the contribution of the numerous volunteer firefighters present on the scene, as well as the tankers provided by the Attica region – where Athens is located – and by the Army General Staff.
For the moment, the winds do not seem to be blowing in the direction of residential areas, spreading the flames to an area of Mount Parnitha that has already been burned in previous fires. The fire started in the Katsimidi forest area.
However, strong gusts of wind caused the smoke to move towards the centre of the Greek capital, where the smell of burning wood could be detected.
“There is no longer an active front” in Katsimidi “but the battle is not over yet, even if the situation has improved,” said the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias, in the late afternoon.
According to forecasts for Sunday, there is a very high risk of fire (category 4) in the Attica region, in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, on the island of Crete, in the north and south of the Aegean Sea and in central Greece.
Accustomed to the scorching summer heat, Greece has been preparing for a particularly difficult fire season for weeks. After the hottest winter in its history, the country recorded its first heat wave last week, with temperatures exceeding 44°C in some regions. In 2023, a two-week heat wave was followed by devastating wildfires that killed 20 people.
Source: Observadora
