Wildfires Strike Greece Again, Forcing Evacuations Near Athens

Fires in Attica. Photo source: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

A least four fires flared by the heatwave and gale force winds raged into the night in Greece leaving hundreds homeless, dozens of dead animals, forcing the evacuation of seaside towns, hotels and resorts and causing massive damage to the already ailing habitat around Attica.

In a press briefing, Greece’s Climate Control Minister Vassilis Kikilias said 81 forest fires had been reported in the last three days with four of the most serious in eastern Attica, Viotia (Central Greece), Loutraki and Dervenochoria, where another fire in the summer of 2007 left behind 84 people dead.

The minister said a total of 544 firefighters and 198 fire trucks, 23 planes and 18 helicopters as well as volunteers and the Armed Forces worked into the night to put out the fires.

Satellite image of the smoke journey from the fire at Kouvaras, Attica. Photo source: NOAA-20 VIIRS

He added that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the fires in Kaparelli, and that investigations were ongoing. The Greek police also said it had arrested a man suspected of starting the fire in the village of Kouvaras near Athens. At least 4,000 hectares of woodland were burned to ashes, Lavreotiki Mayor Dimitris Loukas told local media.

Fires in Loutraki and Dervenhoria rekindled earlier today forcing more evacuations while new fronts emerged, including one in Dafni on Egaleo Hill outside Athens. Parts of the Attiki Odos Motorway in Athens have been closed off.

Speaking to the press earlier today (Tuesday), Fire Service Spokesman Yannis Artopoios said most of the fronts in the wider area of popular summer resort Saronida, eastern Attica, Kaparelli, and Keratea were under control.

Fire Service Spokesman Yannis Artopoios. Photo source: Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection

Fire forces were also battling the blazes in Kallithea (Loutraki), where 1,200 children were evacuated from a sports camp in the area while sections of the Athens-Corinth highway were closed off. Fires also broke out on the island of Lesvos and northeast near the border with Turkey on Saturday threatening the Dadia National Forest.

Greek PM to return to Greece earlier

“Our first concern is always the protection of human life, followed by the protection of property and our natural environment. That is why it is very important that the evacuations ordered by the Civil Protection be carried out as quickly as possible,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday from Brussels.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Photo source: PM Press Office

“No doubt more will follow. Wildfires have occurred and will continue to occur. This is also one of the effects of the climate crisis that we are experiencing with increasing intensity,” he added. The PM’s office said Mitsotakis would be returning to Greece earlier than planned.

Greece received 72 million euros in funding this year to take precautionary measures including clearing away forested areas as part of fire prevention measures.

In 2021, forests fires ravaged the northwest Athens suburb of Varibobi and Evia island and in July 2018, 101 people lost their lives after a fire devastated the seaside resort town of Mati.

Archive photo.

Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) members are offering accommodation to people displaced from the forest fires. Citizens are advised to contact the General Secretariat of Civil Protection on 2131510903 and 2131510953.

Greek authorities have also said that people affected by the fires would receive compensation.

Greece will remain on high fire alert as it expects temperatures to reach more than 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days.