Wildfires erupt across Athens and nearby tourist islands | World | News

After a week of heat wave that pushed temperatures on 45C, large forest fires exploded in Greece and forced thousands of people to escape their homes as they passed through the villages near Athens and several Greek islands.

A large fire, on Saturday through the northern suburb of the Greek capital, confirmed that the country’s fire brigade service demanded emergency evacuation orders. About 12 miles northeast of Athens, the inhabitants of Krioneri received three SMS warnings that told them to move to safer areas, and the nearby Drosopigi Village was covered with smoke because it was echoed from factories containing flammable materials.

65 firefighters, 26 vehicles and two aircraft struggling with flames were deployed to lower the helicopters. Authorities also reported that Greece has fought three major fires in Crete and Evia, the largest islands of Greece.

A firefighter spokesman, in the last 24 hours, at least 52 forest fire erupted throughout the country, and strong winds that trigger more evacuation, he said.

In Evia, 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles supported by six aircraft and seven helicopters worked to control fires. Residents in the Triada region were warned to prepare for possible evacuation as the wind conditions deteriorated.

Elsewhere, the villages of Aroniadika, Pitsinades and Ardoi on the island of Kythera were evacuated like Kryoneri and Sellas in Messinia west of Athens. These regions were already placed high alarms due to extreme temperatures and estimated winds.

The Greek weather service said that temperatures are expected to reach 44C on Saturday and combine concerns.

In Greece, fires have become a more frequent and destructive problem, which lies in what a few Mediterranean countries and scientists define forest fire in the hot and dry summer months.