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.
The war between Russia and Ukraine continued to claim civilian lives this week even as diplomatic activity inte...
Sweden will reintroduce internal border controls for six months, citing security threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Poland has ...
Peruvian authorities have seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks inside the luggage of three Europeans attempting to fly to Germany, pro...
Democrat wins surged on Tuesday across the United States with stunning victories in the South Carolina, Texas and Ohio senate races -- traditionally Republican strongholds -- in the 3 November midterm elections.
From international reporting and investigative documentaries to global forums and digital innovation, AnewZ marks two years of connecting Azerbaijan and the wider world.
Democrats captured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories that reached into Republican strongholds, with millions of voters delivering a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.
Iran and the United States remains far from a deal to end the conflict as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz. Following Republican losses in U.S. midterm elections, Tehran says Americans have rejected the war, while Qatar intensifies mediation efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
A fresh wave of hoax bomb threats disrupted air travel across Europe on Thursday, prompting flight diversions, additional security checks and emergency procedures at several airports.
Cyclone Murasu struck India's eastern coast on Tuesday, bringing powerful winds and forcing thousands to evacuate, just a week after another deadly storm battered the region, the country's weather department said.
The world's richest 0.1 per cent, just eight million people, produce more carbon emissions through their consumption than the poorest 3.5 billion people combined, according to an Oxfam report released on 27 October 2026.
Azerbaijan is seeking international investment in a 3,000-kilometre green energy corridor to Europe, with banks, investors and energy companies gathering in Baku on Thursday to discuss financing for the ambitious project.
A female dusky shark trapped in a canal in Busan, South Korea, for more than a month has finally returned to the open sea after a successful rescue operation on Wednesday (21 October), following two failed attempts.
The world is on course for dangerous levels of global warming despite international climate pledges, with greenhouse gas emissions hitting record highs and the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target increasingly out of reach, according to a UN assessment.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment