On Monday, the Greek Civil Protection ordered the evacuation of several towns in the northeastern suburbs of Athens in response to a massive fire that broke out on Sunday and continues to expand. The Civil Protection sent text messages to everyone in the affected area saying, "Forest fire near you. Follow the authorities' instructions," providing guidance on evacuation routes.
The fire led to the evacuation of the historic town of Marathon, located 40 kilometers northeast of Athens, which has more than seven thousand residents. At least five other areas were evacuated early Monday, along with two hospitals, one for children and the other military, in Penteli, about 15 kilometers northeast of the capital.
Authorities opened the OAKA Olympic Stadium in northern Athens to accommodate thousands of people. Fire department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakoyiannis stated during a press conference: "All civil protection forces have fought throughout the night, and despite their tremendous efforts, the fire continues to spread rapidly towards Penteli."
He reported that 510 firefighters and 152 vehicles were deployed, with 29 aircraft surveying the area since dawn. Firefighting teams managed to control 22 out of 40 fire hotspots that ignited in the previous 24 hours by Sunday afternoon.
Civil Protection Minister warned on Saturday that half of the country is at significant risk of wildfires until at least August 15 due to high temperatures, strong winds, and drought conditions. Vathrakoyiannis emphasized that "wind strength will unfortunately remain high in the coming hours, and residents in the area must comply with authorities' instructions."
Greece is prone to wildfires this summer, especially after a winter marked by significant drought. June and July have been the hottest months since data collection began in 1960. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rising temperatures are leading to prolonged wildfire seasons and increased areas consumed by flames worldwide.
