An “exceptionally dangerous” forest fire has raged out of control in Athens, sending flames 25 metres (80ft) into the air.
The massive blaze, helped by strong winds and bone-dry conditions, has forced many people in the northern suburbs of the Greek capital to leave their homes.
Hospitals have been evacuated and some areas have suffered power cuts, as temperatures neared 40C (104F).
A wildfire burns in Nea Penteli. Pic: Reuters
Thousands of people fled their properties, including in the historic town of Marathon, following numerous evacuation orders as a blanket of smoke and ash covered the city centre.
Residents have complained of not being able to breathe properly and finding the smoke “suffocating”.
Around 700 firefighters are battling the flames, which began on Sunday about 20 miles from Athens.
Flames have engulfed an area of about 20 miles. By Monday afternoon, the fire had reached a suburb around nine miles from the centre.
More than 190 vehicles have been used, along with 17 water-dropping planes and 16 helicopters providing aerial support.
Three hospitals, including a children’s hospital, two monasteries and a children’s home were evacuated.
Police said 380 officers were assisting in evacuations, and helped move more than 250 people away from the path of the flames.
A volunteer tries to extinguish a wildfire burning in Nea Penteli. Pic: Reuters
A house is seen in flames as a wildfire burns in Nea Penteli.
Pic: Reuters
Two firefighters were injured – one was treated for light burns and the other for breathing problems – and 13 civilians suffered breathing difficulties.
It was “an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances”, climate crisis and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said.
Mr Kikilias said the fire was burning mainly on two separate fronts, including in hard-to-reach areas on a mountain to the northeast of Athens, adding that half of the country is currently under a “red alert” for wildfire hazard.
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Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Dionysos. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Spyros Gorilas, who hosed down his house to save it from the flames, said: “The wind would go in one direction and then in the other. The smoke was suffocating. You couldn’t see. Your eyes teared up. You couldn’t breathe. You couldn’t see the house.
“Even the helicopter that dropped water, you couldn’t see it. You could only hear it. Nothing else.”
The Olympic stadium in northern Athens and other stadiums were opened for those fleeing fires, while three major hospitals were put on standby.
An injured cat is rescued in Rapentosa. Pic: Reuters
European neighbours offer help
France has said it will send a helicopter, 180 civil security personnel and 55 fire engines, while Italy has offered two water-dropping planes and the Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey have also agreed to help.
June and July of this year were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, where the summer’s repeated heatwaves have left pine forests tinder-dry and susceptible to fire.
Wildfires in Greece have become more frequent in recent years during increasingly hot, dry summers linked to climate change.
Last year, more than 8,000 blazes broke out, fire brigade data showed and hundreds have been recorded since May.
It also followed the country’s warmest winter ever.
