Fire disaster at Athens: tens of thousands on alert

Fire disaster at Athens: tens of thousands on alert

Athens (dpa) - The devastating effects of a huge forest fire on the northeastern outskirts of Athens are also skillfully thrown into the continued challenges with which the Greek population is confronted in the face of extreme weather conditions. The fire, which has been raging since Sunday afternoon, has not only forced dozens of residents to evacuate, but also put the entire region into an alarming state.

evacuations and health emergencies

In total, the residents of twelve towns were called to leave their houses in the area of marathon and Penteli. The fire brigade carried out the emergency call by SMS to inform the local population about the acute danger. It was reported that several people had to be brought to hospitals due to respiratory problems. Even two hospitals had to be evacuated, which illustrates the urgency of the situation.

strongly due to drought and wind favors

Greek meteorologists and civil protection authorities indicate that the extreme dryness and the strong winds in the region significantly increase the risk of major fires. Every small fire could spread quickly under these conditions and take on catastrophic dimensions. It has hardly rained for months, which caused the fire risk in numerous regions of Greece to the highest level.

dense smoke impairs breathing air

The far -reaching effects of the fire are also clearly noticeable in Athens itself. A dense gray -brown cloud of smoke has wrapped the city into an ominous light and stretched over more than 100 kilometers, right up to the Peloponnese peninsula. These health risks are still exacerbated by the persistent breathing problems that many citizens experience.

state measures to support

In response to the dramatic situation, the government has taken numerous measures. The stadiums and sports halls in North Athen were open to evacuated citizens, while hotels also provided accommodations. The reporters on site agreed that the tourist facilities were not threatened for the time being, even if many residents remained in their homes and tried to fight the flames with garden tubes.

political return to coping with crisis

In the middle of this emergency, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriako's Mitsotakis broke off his vacation and immediately returned to Athens. This shows the government's commitment to cope with the crisis and to assist the citizens in this turbulent time. Fire brigade and rescue units have been brought together from various parts of Greece to support the fire location, which illustrates the seriousness of the situation.

The forest fire on the outskirts of Athens is a disturbing example of the challenges that many communities stand in front of the climate change and increasing weather extreme. There is a need for considerable efforts to protect citizens and make the infrastructure more resistant so that such tragedies can be avoided in the future.