Greece Wildfire Causes Widespread Devastation Near Athens

A devastating wildfire near Athens has burned approximately 40 square miles of land, resulting in the death of at least one factory worker and severely damaging 22 businesses and 78 homes, nearly half of which were completely destroyed. The fire, which erupted on August 11 near Varnavas, has been exacerbated by extreme heat waves and low rainfall, leading to a significant increase in wildfire intensity across Greece. Satellite images reveal extensive damage, with flames approaching the outskirts of Athens, a city of 3 million residents. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service has reported that the fire area is nearly twice the size of Manhattan, and inspections of affected regions are ongoing. Neighboring countries, including Turkey, have provided assistance to combat the blaze, which is part of a worrying trend of increasing wildfires across southern Europe due to climate change. Over the past eight years, 37% of the Attica region's forested area has been lost to fires, highlighting the growing environmental crisis.