Disasters & Accidents

Greece evacuates more than 10 towns as wildfires continue

(Update: adds Greece evacuations)

Athens/Istanbul Aug 5 (EFE).- Greece continued to battle intense wildfires Thursday, with more than 10 towns, including two suburbs of the capital Athens, needing to be evacuated, as the country suffers through its worst heat wave in 40 years.

Neighboring Turkey is also struggling to contain dozens of blazes, including one which threatened the thermal power plant in Milas in the western province of Mugla.

While the blazes in Greece are far from being brought under control, they have yet to claim any lives.

Among the evacuated populations are two northern suburbs of Athens and several towns and villages near the archaeological site of ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.

Two residents and two firefighters involved in extinguishing the fire surrounding Olympia were injured and had to be treated for minor burns and respiratory problems.

Stronger winds are forecast for Friday which could hamper firefighting efforts.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the coordination center of the Olympia fire on Thursday, where he promised compensation to all citizens whose houses or agricultural fields have been destroyed.

Mitsotakis also urged climate change skeptics to react to the “unprecedented environmental crisis” that Greece and the region is experiencing.

In Turkey, residents of 10 districts near the Milas plant were evacuated after fires caused power lines to explode.

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