One person was killed and the other burned in Greece’s worst flames on Tuesday, authorities said, despite lighter winds and rescue efforts having helped to lessen its strength.
The blaze that broke out on Sunday near the village of Varnavas, 35 kilometers ( 20 miles ) north of Athens, tore homes, vehicles, and large areas of bone-dry forest, and surrounded by hundreds of firefighters backed by fire engines and waterbombing aircraft.
The fire sprang from a woody, high area on Monday, choking the town with smoke and ash and incendiating residents in areas that had not seen for a fire so close to the city’s center in decades.
It reached Vrilissia, around 14 km ( 8 miles ) from central Athens, a day ago, where one person was found dead, according to the fire brigade.
The cause of the fire was not yet determined.
With strong winds and temperatures projected to reach up to 40 degrees Celsius ( 104 degrees Fahrenheit ), the country will be on large fire update until Thursday.
” The total picture appears better, but there are still many sides in various areas,” said a fire brigade official.
Wildfires have been a regular occurrence in Greek summer for many years, but climate change has resulted in hotter weather and fewer weather, ideal circumstances for large-scale flames.
The country in southwestern Europe had its best winter on report this year, and it was on course for its hottest summer, with few rains falling in many places for months.
Spain and the Balkans were just two examples of how the condition was getting worse in southwestern Europe.
The Greek fireplace left behind burned cars, abandoned houses, and charred grounds as a result. Local newspaper Proto Thema said the damage spanned 100 square kilometres ( 39 square miles ) and included 100 homes.
Greece has activated the European Civil Protection System and is requesting help from France, Italy, and the Czech Republic via airplane and paramedics. Turkey and Spain have both offered assistance.
More than 30 places were forced to evacuate, along with at least three facilities, with electricity reductions in parts of the wider Athens area. Customer ferries that were heading to the dock of Rafina north of the funds were diverted.
Authorities have helped remove more than 250 individuals, and some people spent the night in homes.
