Scores of firefighters and water-bombing aircraft managed to tame a large wildfire on the outskirts of Athens late Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of two nearby settlements. Greece’s Mediterranean neighbor, Turkey, also faced summer wildfires, resulting in the evacuation of two villages, though no injuries were reported.
The Greek fire service reported that the blaze near Athens, one of dozens nationwide on Wednesday, had been largely contained. Firefighters will remain on alert to prevent a resurgence. Officials indicated that the wildfire, which was exacerbated by windy, hot, and dry conditions, appeared to have been deliberately started.
The fire erupted in low scrub and olive trees near Vari, about 30 kilometers south of central Athens. Fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis noted that winds reached gale force at times, and police assisted in evacuating residents. Local authorities said the fire was abating by late Wednesday.
“The situation is being brought under control,” stated local mayor Dimitris Kioussis to state-run ERT television. “I hope that in the next two hours everything will be over.”
No injuries were reported, but ERT showed images of a burnt-out home and destroyed plastic boats in a yacht and speedboat parking area. More than 140 firefighters, assisted by 16 water-dropping planes and helicopters, worked to control the blaze. Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for climate crisis and civil protection, indicated that arson was strongly suspected, citing visual evidence of an arsonist starting the fire.
In recent days, dozens of wildfires have erupted in Greece amid scorching summer temperatures, although most were extinguished before causing significant damage. Several individuals were arrested and charged with accidentally starting fires. Vathrakogiannis described Wednesday as “a very difficult day” due to the challenging weather conditions, with new fires breaking out almost every ten minutes.
The greater Athens area has been declared at high risk of fire for Thursday as well. Wildfires are common in Greece’s dry, hot summers and have led to numerous deaths in recent years. Authorities warn of a particularly high risk this summer due to a dry, warm winter that left vegetation tinder-dry. Firefighters and aircraft are currently battling another major fire in the southern Peloponnese region, which forced the evacuation of a village, as well as fires in central Greece and on the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos.
In Turkey, officials announced Wednesday that they had brought two wildfires under control on the historic Gallipoli peninsula and in Eceabat, both located in northwestern Canakkale province. Hundreds of firefighters and volunteers, supported by 15 water-dropping aircraft, battled the blazes that began Tuesday. The Eceabat fire reportedly started when a fire burning agricultural waste accidentally spread into a forest. Two villages in Gallipoli were evacuated as a precaution, and many historic monuments in the area were temporarily closed to visitors. Additionally, four more blazes were reported Wednesday in western Turkey.