Disasters & Accidents

Fires break out outside Athens, force evacuations

Athens, Aug 16 (EFE).- Two wildfires broke out near the Greek capital Athens on Monday and forced evacuations in several villages.

The first blaze was in the Keratea region to the southeast of Athens, with flames spreading rapidly through pine forests and olive groves, while the second broke out in Vilia, located to the northwest of Athens.

Official sources in Keratea told local media that the first fire has burned through several houses in the evacuated villages but the full extent of damage is yet to be assessed.

Efforts are underway to prevent the flames from reaching Sounio National Park, according to authorities.

Greece has been battling massive fires for the past two weeks. The blazes have seriously impacted areas in the north of Athens, the island of Euboea and the peninsula of Peloponnese.

The wildfires have burned 100,000 hectares of forest, as well as hundreds of houses. So far, two fatalities have been reported. EFE

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