Wild Fires Along All Greece Left Several Evacuated and Wounded

The fire that most worries the authorities is that which broke out near the town of Varnava, about 40 kilometers north of the capital

Two major fires that broke out on Sunday outside Athens have forced authorities to evacuate thousands of people, while hundreds of firefighters struggle to contain the flames amid strong breezes.

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The fire that most worries the authorities is that which broke out near the town of Varnava, about 40 kilometers north of the capital and which is spreading very quickly towards the southeast and the lake of Marathón, said a spokesperson of the Fire Department.

Some 250 firefighters with 79 trucks, 15 aircraft and 11 helicopter tankers operate in the area to contain the fire that has already forced the pre-emptive evacuation of seven villages where some 4,000 people live.

Some houses scattered in the area have been hit by fire, while a special police team had to release dozens of people who were trapped in about 25 cars trying to escape from the fire.

Four people have had to be transferred to a nearby hospital with respiratory problems, according to the same source.

During the last 24 hours, some 40 fires have been declared in Greece, most of which could be smothered before they spread, the fire department reported.

While the current temperatures are normal for the season, two extreme heat waves that hit the country in June and July, with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees in some regions, including Crete, have dried up the vegetation, This increases the risk of forest fires.