Series of wildfires in Attica, Greece
On the afternoon of 11 August 2024, a wildfire fire hit the northeastern Attica region of Greece. The fire broke out in the area of Varnavas, northeast of Athens, at 3:02 PM, according to Fire Colonel Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, the Fire Service spokesman and quickly spread due to strong winds. The flames caused the evacuation of many settlements and caused severe damage to homes and forest lands. The fire continues to burn, affecting significant parts of northeastern Attica and threatening the northern districts of Athens.
The fire spread southward and burned on three fronts, including the village of Grammatiko, the town of Marathon, the seaside municipality of Nea Makri and Mount Penteli.
Another blaze in a forested area near the town of Megara, west of Athens, started on 11 August, but had been contained by the afternoon of 12 August, according to the fire brigade.
Firefighting efforts.
Early attempts involved 120 firefighters, nine ground teams, 23 vehicles, two planes and three helicopters. Residents were being evacuated toward Grammatiko and Kifisia.
Shortly after 18:00, 250 firefighters with 67 fire engines, were already fighting the fire on the ground, by water wagons from the regional administration and the armed forces. 12 planes and 6 helicopters were dousing the fires and one helicopter served to coordinate them.
On 12 August, the forces deployed against the flames were increased to 560 firefighters, together with 16 teams of forest commandos and 177 vehicles, while 32 aircraft (17 airplanes and 15 helicopters) were operating from the air. The Hellenic Army was also been deployed to assist.
By 13 August, the wildfire no longer had a single front. According to the Fire Brigade, the firefighters had to deal with scattered pockets of fire from Varnavas to Nea Makri and Penteli, while there were constant rekindlings.
Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias stated that overall, a total of 702 firefighters were deployed, with 27 forest commando groups, 199 vehicles, while 17 aircraft and 18 helicopters operated periodically, three of which had a coordinating role. In total, Civil Protection sent evacuation messages to 45 areas of Attica.
International assistance.
On 12 August, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was mobilized. The following countries responded:
Other countries' contribution:
Impact and reaction.
According to the Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping Viewer, the fire fronts reached a total of , while the fire burned of land, with accounting for land consisting of residential buildings. It was the first time that a wildfire that started around the Attica region, penetrated so deep within the residential core of the city of Athens, reaching the suburbs of Vrilissia and Chalandri.
A week after the fire, the Greek government announced a reforestation program for over 5,800 hectares throughout Attica. This covers previously burned areas of the last 15 years which can not naturally regenerate.
Casualties.
One firefighter was injured while fighting the fire in the area of Marathon, suffering second degree burns to his hands and legs. He was first taken to the Nea Makri health centre and then to the 251 Air Force General Hospital.
Two fire trucks were engulfed in flames in the area of Neos Voutzas, where the fire is raging out of control. One firefighter suffered minor burns and the remaining three were in good health.
A hospital, a children's hospital and a military hospital, as well as at least two monasteries, were also evacuated.
Thirty-one people from areas of north-eastern Attica were transported to hospitals with respiratory problems.
In the early hours of 13 August, the charred body of a 62-year-old Moldovan woman was found inside the building of a local business, at the Patima neighborhood of the Athenian suburb of Chalandri. She had been missing since noon of the previous day.
References.
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