A significant wildfire has wreaked havoc in the coastal towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, located 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Athens, resulting in the destruction of numerous homes and prompting urgent evacuations. The inferno, initially sparked by low vegetation fires, quickly escalated into populated areas, coinciding with Greece's first heatwave of the summer season.
Local officials have confirmed that at least 20 homes were destroyed, with many others sustaining varying degrees of damage. The precarious situation has been exacerbated by strong winds and unrelenting temperatures reaching as high as 40°C, making firefighting efforts extremely challenging.
In response to the crisis, local residents have teamed up with firefighters, forest rangers, and aerial support to combat the blaze and safeguard their properties. The coast guard has also been deployed to patrol the area along the coastline. Authorities swiftly issued emergency alerts via the 112 system, instructing residents from affected towns and villages to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
To combat the increasing threat of wildfires, Greece has enhanced its firefighting resources this year, deploying an additional 18,000 firefighters supported by volunteers. This measure comes as wildfires have surged in frequency due to prolonged summer heat and climate change. Earlier in the week, thousands of hectares of land were scorched on Chios, Greece's fifth-largest island, where a Georgian woman was arrested for allegedly starting the fire through careless disposal of a cigarette.
Reports indicate that the situation remains dire along the coastal strip, where more homes were engulfed in flames. One resident, sharing her tragic account, noted she returned to find her home completely consumed by the fire due to the fierce winds. Emergency responders have also rescued eleven tourists stranded on a beach by the advancing flames.
Despite evacuation orders, some residents chose to remain and attempted to fend off the inferno with basic garden tools, ignoring the substantial risks and potentially hindering emergency services. According to the Greek state broadcaster ERT, rescue operations for about 40 individuals, including vulnerable children and elderly residents, were recently undertaken by police.
Fire Service spokesperson Vasileios Vathrakogiannis reported that crews were in an ongoing battle against the fire both on land and from the air, particularly in regions where the flames threatened homes directly. Local officials described the conditions as extremely challenging, with all municipal facilities opened as havens for those needing shelter or medical care.
In an effort to investigate the cause of the wildfire, Greece's fire service has established a special arson investigation unit at the scene. Experts warn of dangerously high temperatures expected in the area, correlating with a very high risk of further wildfires across regions including Attica, Evia, the Peloponnese, and the northern Aegean.
