Greece: Wildfire images show flames nearing Athens, multiple areas evacuated

As Greece faces one of its most intense wildfire seasons in recent history, flames are rapidly closing in on Athens, forcing authorities to evacuate several areas, including the historic town of Marathon. The situation remains dire, with firefighters battling to contain the blazes that threaten to engulf the northeastern suburbs of the capital.

Uncontrolled Flames Push Towards Athens

On Monday, August 12, Greek Civil Protection authorities ordered the evacuation of several towns in the northeastern suburbs of Athens. The wildfire, which ignited on Sunday, has been spreading at an alarming rate, edging closer to the heart of the city. Despite heroic efforts from firefighters working through the night, the fire continues its relentless advance towards Penteli, a region located just 15 kilometers from the capital.

“The Civil Protection forces fought all night, but despite their superhuman efforts, the fire is spreading rapidly and heading towards Penteli,” stated Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the fire department, during a press briefing on Monday morning.

Mass Evacuations and Hospital Transfers

As the fire intensifies, at least five additional towns were evacuated early Monday morning, along with two hospitals—one pediatric and one military—located in the Penteli area. Twenty-nine children were transferred to other hospitals in Athens, while five adults and a firefighter remain hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening, according to Michalis Giannakos, president of the public hospital employees’ union.

“Wildfire near you. Follow authorities’ instructions,” read the Civil Protection’s urgent text message sent to residents in the affected regions, providing evacuation directions. In response to the escalating crisis, the Greek authorities have opened the Olympic Stadium (OAKA) in northern Athens to shelter the thousands of people displaced by the fires.

A “Biblical Catastrophe”

The situation has escalated to what local officials are calling a “biblical catastrophe.” The fire led to the overnight evacuation of eight villages and the historic town of Marathon, located 40 kilometers northeast of Athens, home to over 7,000 residents. These evacuees have been directed to the coastal town of Nea Makri for safety.

“We are facing a biblical catastrophe. Our entire municipality is engulfed in flames and is going through extremely difficult times,” said Stergios Tsirkas, the mayor of Marathon, in an interview with Skai TV.

According to the public broadcaster ERT, the wildfire front now spans over 30 kilometers, with flames reaching heights of more than 25 meters in some areas.

Massive Firefighting Effort Underway

A total of 670 firefighters and 183 vehicles have been deployed to combat the blaze, supported by 32 aircraft providing aerial assistance since daylight, as reported by Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias during a press conference.

“The winds are still at a level 7 on the Beaufort scale today… Despite a rapid response yesterday—within just seven minutes—we were unable to bring the fire under control,” the minister noted.

As smoke from the fire reaches Athens, the Greek Union of Pulmonologists has advised residents to avoid outdoor exercise, particularly urging pregnant women and vulnerable individuals to limit their exposure to the smoky air.

A Village Engulfed in Minutes

In the eastern Attica province, the town of Varnavas faced a ferocious wildfire on Sunday that quickly spread through the area, forcing the evacuation of hundreds from at least eight neighboring villages. Some residents stayed behind, using makeshift tools to protect their homes from the advancing flames.

“The village was surrounded in no time,” recounted Katerina Fylaktou, a resident of the area. “I don’t understand what happened. The winds were so strong, it was like there were multiple fire outbreaks at once. Suddenly, the entire village was encircled by fire.”

Strong winds have been the main culprit in spreading the flames “in the blink of an eye,” creating extreme fire behavior and opening new fronts behind containment lines, according to Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.

Extreme Drought Conditions Fuel Fires

By Sunday afternoon, Greek firefighters had managed to control 33 out of 40 wildfires that had ignited over the previous 24 hours, Vathrakogiannis told the press. The scale of the fires and the resulting smoke clouds were visible from space, as captured in images shared by the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.

The wildfire crisis is unfolding amid a severe weather alert, with extreme conditions expected to persist throughout the week. Smoke has now begun to blanket parts of Athens.

“Unfortunately, the intensity of the winds is expected to remain high in the coming hours, and it is crucial that citizens in the affected areas follow the authorities’ instructions,” emphasized Vathrakogiannis. Meteorological services predict temperatures of 39°C (102°F) and winds exceeding 50 km/h (31 mph) on Monday in the region.

Greece is particularly vulnerable to summer wildfires, especially after an unusually dry winter. June and July of this year were the hottest months on record since 1960, exacerbating the wildfire risk across the country.

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