'Firefighters were driving back and forth to get water'

Athens is holding its breath as deadly wildfires leave a trail of bleak devastation

- Rich Booth

Greece continued to battle deadly wildfires yesterday, 48 hours after a giant wall of flame spread to just six miles from Athens city centre. The fires had eased since the previous night, but fears over strong winds reigniting pockets meant that the authorities were on high alert as helicopters swooped over the city dropping water on several areas.

Meteorologists predicted that gusts would reach up to 6070km/h (around 40mph), and a fire warning remains in place until tomorrow, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C (104F).

As the smoke-filled skies cleared above Athens, firefighting aircraft arrived from France and Italy as part of a European civil protection mechanism, a government official said. The Czech Republic sent 75 firefighters and 25 engines to assist ground teams.

One woman died in Vrilissia, a municipality with a population of 32,000. Locals said she was in her sixties and became trapped in a building, too afraid to jump from the window. Her body was found inside by firefighters. Other businesses in the area were destroyed, with residents reporting explosions throughout the night.

Many in the region expressed shock at how close the fire had come to central Athens, claiming they had been caught unawares. Stavros Sdrolias, a student who lives in nearby Chalandri, was one of many volunteers who rushed to help put out fires on Monday. The 21-year-old said the smoke was “unbelievable”, adding that, at the height of the fires, you couldn’t leave the house as it was impossible to breathe.