Greek wildfires continue till third day, EU allies send aid
Changes in wind direction aggravates flames
Firefighters' attempts to gain control were impeded by the risen temperatures and strong winds, causing the flames to repeatedly reignite. The unpredictable wind shifts contributed to the challenges, as the fire kept surging in different directions.
"We remain on a level of high alert,"- fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was anticipated to visit the national operations' center to receive a briefing on the ongoing fires. The entire country faced a significant risk of fire hazard.
Fire to persist for a week
The Greek meteorological service had issued a warning about the increased likelihood of fires this week, especially since the country was still recuperating from the initial major heatwave of the summer. Additionally, a second heatwave was predicted to begin on Thursday. Kostas Tsigas, who leads the fire brigade officers association in Greece, stated that the conditions were extremely severe and were expected to persist for at least another week. This information was relayed during an interview with Greece's SKAI TV.
People forced to evacuate and flee
The wildfire originated on Monday in the Dervenochoria region, situated approximately 30 km north of Athens. Fueled by unpredictable winds, the blaze spread rapidly and reached Mandra on Tuesday, resulting in the destruction of houses and forcing residents to evacuate to safety.
Civil Protection Minister claims the state is making "superhuman efforts"
On Wednesday, authorities confirmed that four aircraft from Italy and France would be joining the firefighting efforts. In addition to this international aid, firemen from various regions across the country have been deployed to assist in combating the blazes. Greece has a history of experiencing fires, but the situation has worsened in recent years due to hotter and drier summers.
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