As the summer holiday season winds down, UK travellers planning trips to Greece are facing a growing concern – the rapid spread of devastating wildfires across the country, particularly around the capital city of Athens.
Over the past few days, a fast-moving wildfire has erupted just 35 km (20 miles) north of Athens, fueled by the hot, windy weather and quickly engulfing trees, houses, and cars. The situation has been described as a "biblical catastrophe" by the mayor of the historic town of Marathon, which was also forced to evacuate its 7,000 residents as the flames advanced towards the capital, just 40 km (25 miles) away.
“Our whole town is engulfed in flames and going through difficult times,” Stergios Tsirkas told Greece’s Skai television channel.
The Greek government has responded with urgency, deploying hundreds of firefighters and numerous water-bombing planes and helicopters to battle the blaze. However, the strength of the winds and the challenging terrain have made the firefighting efforts extremely difficult. Authorities have issued stark warnings to residents and tourists, advising them to stay indoors with windows shut due to the hazardous air quality caused by the fires.
The situation has prompted the UK Foreign Office to issue travel warnings for holidaymakers heading to Greece, as the wildfires continue to ravage the region surrounding Athens.
As the Olympic Games in Paris came to a close, the impact of the wildfires was felt even in the Greek capital. The town of Marathon, which gave its name to the long-distance race, was forced to evacuate its 7,000 residents as the fire advanced towards Athens, just 40 km (25 miles) away.
The area of Kallitechnoupoli, close to the port town of Rafina, where a devastating wildfire claimed 104 lives in 2018, is also being evacuated as the flames continue to spread.
Firefighters from neighbouring countries have been sent to assist in the efforts to control the blazes, but the situation remains "extremely dangerous," according to the authorities. The Risk Assessment Committee had previously placed Attica and other regions of Greece on red alert, and their predictions have unfortunately been confirmed.
A Statement by the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, on Monday morning said the residents of northeastern Attica were facing an extremely dangerous wildfire that firefighters have been battling for over 20 hours under dramatic conditions. “These challenges are due to the strong winds, prolonged drought, and the very difficult and rugged terrain of dense, unburnt forest.”
In a statement released online Kikilias warned: “I want to be clear: The response to the initial outbreak in Varnavas, both on the ground and in the air, was immediate. The first aerial unit, was already in the air on a loaded patrol, and started operating just five minutes after the fire erupted. The first ground forces arrived within seven minutes. The forces were steadily reinforced, with the number of aerial units eventually reaching 29 and the firefighters exceeding 500.
“Unfortunately, the prediction from the Risk Assessment Committee, which placed Attica and other regions of Greece on red alert, has been confirmed. We will continue with all our strength until the fire is under control and every last hotspot is extinguished.”
The wildfires have not only threatened the safety of residents and tourists but also disrupted the water supply on some of the Greek islands this summer. With the situation still unfolding, the UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals to closely monitor the news and follow the instructions of the local authorities.
As the summer vacation season winds down, the wildfires in Greece serve as a stark reminder of the increasing threat posed by climate change and the importance of being prepared for such emergencies. Holidaymakers planning to visit the country in the coming weeks are urged to exercise caution, stay informed, and be ready to adjust their plans if necessary.
On Saturday, the Greek Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, announced that emergency measures had been put in place to combat the growing wildfire threat. Kikilias stated, "We have called for the involvement of the army, police and volunteers to deal with the forest fires until August 15."
Addressing the severity of the situation, the Minister warned, "Extremely high temperatures and dangerous weather conditions will prevail. Half of Greece will be in the red."
Authorities have urged residents and tourists alike to remain vigilant and follow all instructions from local officials as they work to bring the destructive blazes under control.
