Firefighters Battle Wildfire Near Athens, Greece

Thousands of inhabitants are being evacuated as a significant wildfire spreads towards Athens, with some flames rising to 25m (80ft).

Emergency agencies are relocating inhabitants to safer regions, including Marathon’s historic site.

The fire service reported that houses and structures in the adjacent town of Varnavas were on fire.

Firefighters also rescued persons trapped by fire in a convoy of 20 to 25 automobiles attempting to flee the scene.

Forty fires have broken out in Greece since Saturday afternoon, with firefighters combating seven.

The fire department worked all night, “but despite superhuman efforts, the fire evolved rapidly,” spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told an emergency news briefing early Monday.

More than 500 firefighters and 150 trucks have been dispatched to help extinguish the flames.

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He added that the fire was approaching Mount Penteli, famous for its marble quarries, and the nearby Athens district of the same name, where three hospitals had evacuated.

A cloud of brown smoke has covered parts of the capital.

Mr Vathrakogiannis further said that winds remained high overnight and predicted to keep increasing throughout Monday morning.

Greece just suffered its warmest June and July on record.

Climate disaster and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias warned that severely dangerous conditions will persist.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis returned to Athens on Sunday, cutting short his holiday to deal with the problem.

The wildfire that began on Sunday afternoon in Varnavas had consumed 100 square kilometres (38 square miles) of land by 19:00 BST.

Residents in Varnavas and Grammatiko told to leave via a message from the national emergency number.

Marathon residents also warned to evacuate to Nea Makri, a coastal town.

One Marathon fireman brought to the hospital with burns of the second degree on his arms and legs, while five others taken for respiratory issues.

According to one Polydendri, a resident, “Everything is burning”.

“I used to have 200 olive trees there, but they are now gone,” claimed Giorgos Tsevas, 48.

“Everyone here has olive orchards or vineyards… All of them have been destroyed.

Nikos Anagnostou, another Varnavas resident, stated the fire’s front was “really huge” and “uncontrollable”.

“All of the olives have burnt. And this year was a good one for oil.

Mr Vathrakogiannis, a firefighter, said winds of up to 8 Beaufort (39-46mph) swiftly spread the fire into a massive magnitude.

“We are appealing to all residents of the region. Mr Vathrakogiannis said the authorities’ directions for their safety, mainly because the fire spread swiftly.

“At this time, the fire is moving toward Marathon Lake, with those fighting against it constantly consolidated, focusing on the flanks and dealing with flames that, in certain instances, are higher than 25m,” he said.

The heavy winds prevented the operations of the firefighting planes involved in the operation, with the fight against the fire likely going on all night because the winds forecast to be quite strong.