Athens blaze forces evacuations amid record Greek heat
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The news: Greece's worst wildfire of the year engulfed Athens' suburbs on Monday, forcing hundreds to evacuate and severely impacting infrastructure, Reuters reported.
The numbers: The blaze, which began near the village of Varnavas, 35 kilometres north of the Greek capital, has scorched trees, homes and vehicles, with smoke disrupting major roads.
Over 700 firefighters backed by volunteers, 199 fire engines and 35 waterbombing aircraft are being deployed, Reuters reported. The fire, driven by strong winds, has reached within 14 km of central Athens, prompting evacuations in 30 areas and power outages.
The context: Greek officials sought assistance from European Union countries, and France, Italy and the Czech Republic were expected to provide it.
Greece is enduring its hottest summer on record and will remain on high fire alert through Thursday, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 40°C and continued strong winds. No fatalities have been reported, but several individuals have been treated for smoke inhalation and burns.
The source: Reuters
