Firefighters in Greece gain ground against wildfires near Athens
Summary
Firefighters in Greece have made progress in controlling a large wildfire burning near Athens for five days. Easing winds helped water-bombing planes join the efforts, but scattered hotspots remain, and the fire risk in the Athens region is still very high.Key Facts
- A wildfire has been burning near the village of Psatha, about 60 km northwest of Athens, since Friday.
- Over 575 firefighters and more than 30 aircraft are working to control the fire.
- Five firefighters have died during the firefighting efforts, including two from a helicopter crash.
- The fire has destroyed or damaged many homes, especially near Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth.
- Large areas of forest and farmland have been burned, totaling more than 13,000 hectares.
- The greater Athens area and nearby islands are under near-maximum fire risk warnings.
- Winds that fueled the fire early on have eased, allowing better firefighting progress.
- Experts warn that high temperatures and strong winds may cause new flare-ups until late August.
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