Greek firefighters are battling a large wildfire south of Athens as the country faces its first major heat wave of the summer, with temperatures nearing 40°C and strong winds fuelling the flames.
The blaze broke out near the coastal town of Palaia Fokaia, around 40 kilometres from the capital, damaging several holiday homes and burning forested areas.
Authorities said the fire is spreading rapidly due to extreme heat and wind. An arson investigation unit has been deployed, but the cause remains unknown.
More than 130 firefighters, backed by 80 fire engines, are on the ground, supported by 12 water-dropping planes and 12 helicopters. Volunteers from the Hellenic Red Cross also assisted with evacuations of people from their homes.
Police have evacuated at least 40 people from the area. Eleven tourists were rescued from a holiday home, while two coast guard boats and nine private vessels remain on standby for possible sea evacuations.
The civil protection agency sent emergency text alerts urging residents to leave. No injuries have been reported, but ambulances are on standby.
Wildfire risk remains high across much of Greece, including the greater Athens area and several Aegean islands. Authorities warn that conditions on Friday will remain dangerous before a possible drop in temperatures.
Earlier this week, it took firefighters four days to control a major blaze on the island of Chios.
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SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday the group aims to become the world’s top platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next decade, signaling a bold new direction for the Japanese tech giant.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Türkiye has thrown its full support behind NATO’s new pledge to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Ankara confirming it is already surpassing the previous 2% benchmark and accelerating efforts to bolster national and regional security.
The United Kingdom has withdrawn its support for a major renewable energy project that aimed to supply power from Morocco to Britain through underwater cables, citing concerns over security and delivery risks.
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SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday the group aims to become the world’s top platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next decade, signaling a bold new direction for the Japanese tech giant.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Türkiye has thrown its full support behind NATO’s new pledge to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Ankara confirming it is already surpassing the previous 2% benchmark and accelerating efforts to bolster national and regional security.
The United Kingdom has withdrawn its support for a major renewable energy project that aimed to supply power from Morocco to Britain through underwater cables, citing concerns over security and delivery risks.
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