Since Sunday, firefighters have been battling a major fire north of Athens, fanned by strong winds. During the night from Monday to Tuesday, the strength of the air currents decreased, giving firefighters hope of putting out the fire.
As a major forest fire has been raging in the northern suburbs of Athens since Sunday, the drop in winds could help bring the fire under control.
Active front of the fire neutralized
The fire started near Lake Marathon, about 35 kilometers northeast of Athens, and spread to the northern suburbs of the capital. It destroyed several homes and businesses in the city’s suburbs and in communities near the lake.
For almost three days, Greek firefighters have been battling flames that can reach more than 25 meters high, fanned by strong winds. A drop in air currents observed on Monday night has raised hopes of putting out the fire.
Firefighters’ spokesman Colonel Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said the firefighters were no longer fighting on one front, but on “numerous active localized fires”mainly around Marathon and Pendeli.
The fire at the gates of Athens
Some of the affected areas are about 15 kilometers from the heart of Athens, where the famous Acropolis and other archaeological sites are located.
A layer of smoke and ash enveloped the Greek capital, with some areas left without electricity, affecting traffic lights at major central intersections.
Large numbers of personnel mobilized
On alert, Greece has mobilized 702 firefighters, 27 forestry teams, 199 land vehicles, 17 planes and 18 helicopters.
Residents joined firefighters to fight the flames.
1 woman dead and more than 18 injured
While the Greek Civil Protection evacuated several residential areas, some people who refused to leave their homes then found themselves trapped and had to be rescued, putting the lives of the firefighters in danger.
Authorities said the body of a woman was found Tuesday in a burned-out building in the suburb of Vrilissia and that 18 people were also injured, mainly from smoke inhalation, as the fire reached the outskirts of a suburb.
Greece’s National Observatory said Monday evening that satellite images show the fire has affected about 10,000 hectares.
ADVERTISEMENTInternational reinforcements
As the fire threatens to spread to the Greek capital, Athens has called for international assistance, activating Europe’s Mutual Civil Protection Mechanism. Several countries have stepped up to lend Greece a helping hand.
France plans to send a helicopter, 200 firefighters and 28 fire trucks. A first contingent of 91 firefighters was dispatched this Tuesday from Brignoles, in the Var.
Italy will send two water-fighting planes and the Czech Republic 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles. Turkey, Serbia and Romania are also extending their support, as is Spain.
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