Dozens of firefighters in Greece on Saturday (June 29) were battling to stop a wildfire from spreading to a nature reserve in a mountainous forest area north of Athens.

Dozens of firefighters in Greece on Saturday (June 29) were battling to stop a wildfire from spreading to a nature reserve in a mountainous forest area north of Athens. A report by the news agency Reuters said that about 80 firefighters assisted by 12 water-carrying planes were trying to control the fire on Mount Parnitha, some 12 kilometres north of Athens, which was being fuelled by gale-force winds. Addressing a press conference, fire brigade spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said that sizeable forces on the ground were fighting a huge fire. "Gusts of wind exceeding 100 km per hour were hampering their efforts," Vathrakogiannis said. He added that another 100 firefighters stationed elsewhere in Greece were expected to join those already working at the scene. Authorities advise people to stay indoors Reuters reported that with hot, windy conditions across much of Greece, some 40 landscape fires broke out since the early morning hours on Saturday and authorities advised people to stay out of forest areas. A message was sent to people in nearby areas (of Mount Parnitha) via the emergency number 112 to be on standby due to the fire. A report by the news agency AFP, meanwhile, said that the Fire Danger Forecast Map issued for Sunday by the Civil Protection Ministry predicted a high risk of fire (category 4) for Attica, the Peloponnese, Crete, the North and South Aegean Regions, and Central Greece. Wildfires have become more devastating in Greece Wildfires are common in Greece but have become more devastating in recent years as summers have become hotter, drier, and windier. In 2023, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires in which 20 people died. The fire consumed nearly 432,000 acres of forest and farmland, according to the government. (With inputs from agencies)

Dozens of firefighters in Greece battle to stop wildfire ignited north of Athens

As deadly wildfires rage across Turkey, Spain and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/apocalyptic-greek-inferno-triggers-mass-evacuation-as-hundreds-left-homeless-403916">Greece</a>, reports said the Sicily region in Italy may have recorded the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe reporting 48.8 Centigrades.

The previous hottest temperature 48&nbsp;Centigrades was recorded in Athens in 1977 by the World Meteorological Organisation(WMO). The current readings which were recorded by local authorities need to be corroborated by the WMO.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sixth-day-of-greek-fires-blaze-ravages-evia-island-like-a-horror-movie-404258">In Pics:&nbsp;Greek fires: Blaze ravages Evia island 'like a horror movie'</a>

Meteorologists in June had predicted temperatures in Italy's southern areas would rise to 44 or 45 Degree Centigrades amid the heatwave.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-climate-change-could-sink-entire-nations-404528/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Sicily faced devasting fires as Greek and Israeli aircraft waterbombed wildfires in Cyprus recently. There have been heatwaves and drought in Cyprus in recent years with temperatures topping 40 Degrees Celsius amid less rainfall.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had said recently that Greece is facing the worst <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-report-warns-more-vicious-floods-heatwaves-worsening-droughts-and-rise-in-sea-levels-404186">heatwave</a> since 1987 as wildfires destroyed vast pine and olive groves.

The Greek prime minister urged citizens to use less power as the country's electricity network was put under strain amid the wildfire. A Greek minister described the situation as a "climate threat" moving away from calling it "climate change".

Turkey also faced the worst wildfire as it deployed hundreds of firefighters as eight people lost their lives amid the uncontrollable firestorm.

EU nations pledged to send aid to Greece, Italy, Albania and Northern Macedonia to fight the forest fires as several homes were destroyed in Greece and large scale evacuation ordered in the south.

Forest fires have been raging in the Mediterranean engulfing Spain and Turkey as tourists were evacuated in Italy earlier even as Europe was hit with floods last month in Germany and Belgium in which 209 people had died and several reported missing.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

As deadly wildfires rage across Turkey, Spain and Greece, reports said the Sicily region in Italy may have recorded the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe reporting 48.

As deadly wildfires rage across Turkey, Spain and Greece, reports said the Sicily region in Italy may have recorded the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe reporting 48.8 Centigrades. The previous hottest temperature 48 Centigrades was recorded in Athens in 1977 by the World Meteorological Organisation(WMO). The current readings which were recorded by local authorities need to be corroborated by the WMO. In Pics: Greek fires: Blaze ravages Evia island 'like a horror movie' Meteorologists in June had predicted temperatures in Italy's southern areas would rise to 44 or 45 Degree Centigrades amid the heatwave. Watch: Sicily faced devasting fires as Greek and Israeli aircraft waterbombed wildfires in Cyprus recently. There have been heatwaves and drought in Cyprus in recent years with temperatures topping 40 Degrees Celsius amid less rainfall. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had said recently that Greece is facing the worst heatwave since 1987 as wildfires destroyed vast pine and olive groves. The Greek prime minister urged citizens to use less power as the country's electricity network was put under strain amid the wildfire. A Greek minister described the situation as a "climate threat" moving away from calling it "climate change". Turkey also faced the worst wildfire as it deployed hundreds of firefighters as eight people lost their lives amid the uncontrollable firestorm. EU nations pledged to send aid to Greece, Italy, Albania and Northern Macedonia to fight the forest fires as several homes were destroyed in Greece and large scale evacuation ordered in the south. Forest fires have been raging in the Mediterranean engulfing Spain and Turkey as tourists were evacuated in Italy earlier even as Europe was hit with floods last month in Germany and Belgium in which 209 people had died and several reported missing. (With inputs from Agencies)

Italy's Sicily region may have recorded Europe's hottest temperature on record

‘Apocalyptic’ Greek inferno triggers mass evacuation as hundreds left homeless