A series of forest fires have hit Athens, and a severe summer is expected

The country is a victim of fires every year, and the situation is expected to be even more tense this year due to Greece’s mildest winter on record and its earliest heat wave, with temperatures already reaching 44°C.

Two large forest fires broke out in the Attica region, which includes the Greek capital, on Sunday evening, and residents of at least eight districts around Athens were told to evacuate their homes.

Ert TV channel reported that winds blew more than 70 km/h in Stamata, north of Athens, and that a 45-year-old man died of a heart attack while trying to escape the blaze.

– A firefighters spokesman told reporters Sunday was “the most difficult day the firefighters have faced this year.” Vasilis Vatrakogiannis.

In Keratea, south of the capital, the fire that broke out around 1pm engulfed cars and houses, with at least four of them completely destroyed, Ertnews reported.

– The mayor of Lavreotiki said the situation was very difficult because strong winds were still blowing at more than 60 km/h and “the eruption was in many places” Dimitris Lucas He also said there was no immediate threat to nearby air bases.

A fire had broken out in the same area a day earlier, but the fire was brought under control.

On Sunday, fires also engulfed the industrial zone of Likona on the island of Euboea, which stretches nearly 160 kilometers along the Aegean Sea.

Greek firefighters bring forest fire under control on Serifos island

Greek firefighters on Sunday managed to contain a fire that swept through the Aegean island of Serifos overnight, destroying several homes and forcing the evacuation of several villages.

The fire broke out in vegetation and low-lying areas of Maki Island on Saturday and spread rapidly, driven by strong winds. Dozens of firefighters with 15 fire trucks and a canard fire truck battled the fire, which at one point spread as far as 15 kilometers across the affected area.

mayor Spend Revinthis Damaged huts and warehouses were reported.

Dozens of fires have broken out in Greece, fuelled by high temperatures and winds, with authorities warning people to stay away from wooded areas.

According to meteorologists, strong winds should begin to ease by Sunday evening.

Forest fires are common in the Mediterranean region but have become more destructive in recent years as summers have become hotter, drier and windier, which scientists attribute to climate change.