Greece battles aftermath of deadly Athens wildfire

Greece battles aftermath of deadly Athens wildfire

By Ezekiel David

Firefighters in Greece are still battling remnants of a wildfire near Athens that killed a woman, destroyed buildings, and forced thousands to flee. While the fire has mostly been contained after three days, officials remain vigilant against flare-ups.

Nikos Lavranos, head of the Greek fire service employees, stressed ongoing efforts to prevent the blaze from reigniting. Government inspectors are assessing the damage, as some residents return to their charred properties.

The fire, which began Sunday near Varnavas, quickly spread into Athens’ northern suburbs, destroying around 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) of land. The cause is still unknown.

With temperatures expected to hit 40°C (104°F) and winds picking up, Greece remains on high fire alert. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the need for improved firefighting resources, despite a three-year wait for additional aircraft.

The government has faced criticism over its response, as Greece has seen a nearly 50% rise in wildfires, with over 3,500 fires reported this year compared to 2,300 in the same period in 2023.

(Source: Reuters)

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