
The country’s worst wildfire this year continued to spread into the Athens suburbs yesterday evening after first igniting on Sunday afternoon, forcing thousands of people to flee homes and hospitals.
Tourists on the hills around the Acropolis watched as smoke spread over the busy city. A warning has been issued to anyone near affected areas to exercise caution when leaving the house due to the density of the smoke. Power cuts were reported in several parts of the capital, now thick with the smell of burning.
The fire was burning in a wide arc on the capital’s northeastern fringes, sending a blanket of smoke over central Athens on Sunday. There has been no disruption reported at Athens airports where those landing and taking off could see a wall of smoke darkening the sky yesterday morning.
Almost 700 firefighters backed by volunteers, 190 fire engines and 33 waterbombing aircraft have been battling the blaze that broke out at 3pm on Sunday near the village of Varnavas 20 miles north of Athens. It was fanned by strong winds that quickly drove it out of control, more strong winds are predicted for the rest of the week.
Meteorologists and government officials have warned of the heightened danger of wildfires because of weather conditions from Sunday until Thursday, with half of the country placed under a “red alert” for wildfire hazard.
Flames towered at times to heights of over 25m, as the wall of flames edged towards more densely populated areas. The wildfire was racing through pine forests left tinder-dry by the hottest June and July ever recorded in Greece.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

MOTLEY CRUISE
From death metal in a sauna to mosh pits that rock the boat – literally – Kinza Shenn sets sail on a hardcore music voyage

'Please make this 13-hour flight even longer, captain'
Simon Calder explains how air passengers’ rights rules have unintended consequences, including delaying more planes

RUNNING ON EMPTY
It’s now the norm to navigate the world in private bubbles – headphones in, strangers at bay. So Isobel Lewis decided to run with just her thoughts for a year and she was transformed

I was trying to save baby wombat, claims influencer
An American influencer who sparked outrage after filming herself taking a baby wombat away from its mother has defended her actions and said she was only trying to get it off the road.

PM says peacekeeping force plans in ‘operational phase'
UK will host military chiefs from ‘coalition of the willing’ on Thursday to create robust strategy to back Ukraine ceasefire

Can Newcastle overcome weight of history to win?
A Carabao Cup trophy may mean more to the Toon than Liverpool but often these games go to those who want it least

‘A sibling's suicide is like an explosion in slow motion'
Novelist Richard Mason still hasn’t fully recovered from his sister’s death but, he tells Megan Lloyd Davies, it led to him creating a foundation which has transformed so many lives

School inspector sacked for wiping rain off child's face.wins unfair dismissal case
A former Ofsted inspector sacked for brushing water off a child’s head was unfairly dismissed, the Court of Appeal has found.

'It's taken literally 25 years to get my head around it'
Boyband Five are reuniting to tour but – as J, Scott, Sean, Abz and Ritchie reveal to Hannah Ewens – they’re still dealing with the madness resulting from years at the top

Trump expels 'race-baiting South African ambassador
The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador after accusing him of being a “race-baiting politician” who hates the US and president Donald Trump.