Large wildfire near Athens contained

Scores of Greek firefighters and water-bombing aircraft succeeded late Wednesday in taming a large wildfire on the outskirts of Athens.

The blaze forced authorities to evacuate two nearby settlements.

As reported by AP News, the wildfire broke out in low scrub and olive trees near Vari, approximately 30 kilometres south of central Athens.

The Greek fire service reported that the fire was largely contained, but firefighters would remain on alert to prevent any resurgence.

Local authorities indicated that windy, hot, and dry weather exacerbated the wildfire.

Fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis stated: “Winds at times reached gale force,” complicating efforts to control the fire.

The local mayor, Dimitris Kioussis, told state-run ERT television: “The situation is being brought under control. I hope that in the next two hours everything will be over.”

Investigation into arson

Authorities suspect that the wildfire near Athens was deliberately started.

Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for climate crisis and civil protection, stated: “Investigators are in possession of visual material that clearly shows an arsonist starting the fire in dry undergrowth.” A can of petrol was also found nearby.

The greater Athens area has been declared at high risk of fire on Thursday.

Vathrakogiannis mentioned that Wednesday was “a very difficult day” due to the weather conditions, with new fires breaking out almost every ten minutes.

Fortunately, most were dealt with immediately.

No injuries were reported from the Athens fire.

However, ERT showed a burnt-out home and destroyed plastic boats in a yacht and speedboat parking area.

It is too early to confirm reports of damage to businesses and homes.

Wildfires in other parts of Greece and Türkiye

In addition to the fire near Athens, firefighters and aircraft were battling other major fires in the southern Peloponnese region, central Greece, and on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos.

These fires also forced the evacuation of a village.

In Türkiye, officials reported that they had brought two wildfires under control in the historic Gallipoli peninsula and Eceabat in the northwestern Canakkale province.

The Eceabat blaze reportedly started when a fire set to burn agricultural waste accidentally spread into a forest.

Two villages in Gallipoli were evacuated as a precaution, and many historic monuments were temporarily closed to visitors.

Regularly hit by searing summer temperatures, Greece has experienced numerous wildfires in recent days.

Several people have been arrested and charged with accidentally starting the blazes.

Scientists warn that human-induced fossil fuel emissions are worsening the length, frequency, and intensity of heatwaves across the world, leading to longer wildfire seasons.