Wildfires Force Evacuations Across Athens, Crete, Evia Amid Heatwave

A severe wildfire has burned through Kryoneri, a northern suburb of Athens, prompting evacuation orders for residents via multiple SMS alerts. Fire officials report damages and are mobilizing significant resources, including 145 firefighters, 44 fire engines, 10 firefighting planes, and seven helicopters, while seeking six additional firefighting planes through the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism. The fires are exacerbated by extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, dry conditions, and strong winds, causing rapid expansion of the blazes that are expected to continue. The Greek Fire Service is simultaneously battling three other major wildfires on the islands of Crete, Evia, and Kythera, with a total of 52 wildfires reported across the country in the past 24 hours. Emergency medical teams are treating several residents, mainly elderly individuals suffering respiratory issues. These wildfires reflect a growing trend of frequent and destructive fires in Greece in recent years, with multiple incidents occurring over the past month.