Ongoing Wildfire Crisis Near Athens
Firefighters are continuing their efforts to contain a deadly wildfire near Athens, with strong winds posing a significant threat as the fire spreads. This is the second day of intense firefighting operations in the region, as more than 260 firefighters, nearly 80 fire engines, and 12 aircraft have been deployed to combat the flames near Keratea, a rural area located approximately 27 miles southeast of the city.
A spokesperson for the fire department stated that while the fire has weakened, there are still active pockets that require attention. On Saturday, a new fire broke out near the nearby town of Kouvaras but was quickly brought under control. The situation remains tense, especially as the National Observatory in Athens warned that high winds will continue until at least Monday.
Impact on Local Communities
The fire, which began on Friday, has devastated nearly 10,000 acres of brush and forest, according to Dimitris Loukas, mayor of Lavrio, the nearest city. He reported that many homes were destroyed, along with other properties, agricultural land, and forest areas.
Evacuations were carried out late Friday, with dozens of people being moved from homes and an elderly care center as the flames approached the coastal resort of Palaia Fokaia. Firefighters later discovered the remains of an elderly man in a hut near Keratea, who had died in his bed.
In Palaia Fokaia, a picturesque Greek landscape of olive groves and hamlets was transformed into a dystopian scene of blackened land and burned homes. On Saturday, howling winds spread dust and the bitter smell of ash from the surrounding hills, where fires and smoldering embers continued to burn.
Personal Stories of Loss
At one gutted home, residents wearing masks returned to retrieve whatever belongings survived the inferno. A despondent woman named Dimitria was fortunate enough to have her home spared, but the nearby forest was completely destroyed, leaving it as a desolate terrain of roasted trees and ash.
“I was very disappointed because from yesterday night, there were very few reinforcements from the fire brigade,” she lamented, describing how help arrived after the advancing fire threatened “many houses” near the forest. “My house is OK, but my forest is burned. And that is the pity,” she said, her voice trembling as she left to survey the damage.
Firefighters worked tirelessly to douse any embers in a copse of trees, with scorched twigs and debris crunching under their boots. Gale-force winds on Friday also led to the tragic deaths of two Vietnamese tourists who fell into the sea at Sarakiniko beach on the Cycladic island of Milos.
Broader Impacts Across Europe
Greece’s national weather service EMY forecasted winds of up to 46 miles per hour for Saturday. These conditions disrupted ferry travel for tens of thousands of summer holidaymakers. However, a sailing ban on Athens ports was lifted on Saturday.
Wildfires also hit Italy's Mount Vesuvius, as deadly blazes continued to sweep through Europe amid a scorching heatwave. Dramatic footage showed flames engulfing the volcano in Naples, with firefighters working to control the blaze. The operation was temporarily suspended at sunset for safety reasons.
Raffaele De Luca, president of the Vesuvius National Park, expressed deep concern about the fire's progress, thanking those working to protect natural heritage and ensure the safety of nearby residents.
Widespread Wildfire Threats
The devastating wildfires have not only affected Greece but also Turkey and France, driven by hotter and drier conditions. In Spain, 1,500 tourists and locals were evacuated as a dramatic forest fire near a beach resort caused chaos in Tarifa, often referred to as a "surfer's paradise."
According to local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Peña campsite, which had to be evacuated. The flames then spread westward, rapidly moving through hilly and grassland areas where homes and tourist establishments are scattered, including the Wawa Hotel. Several beach bars and 'chiringuitos' were also evacuated due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore.