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.
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ank...
A gas explosion at a karaoke restaurant in the Andean town of Huancane left 10 people dead, including eight students, and seriously injured three othe...
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe...
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Îl...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with world leaders, sports stars, and FIFA officials on hand to fin...
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ankara could be resolved within four to six months, describing the relationship as strong and stable.
A gas explosion at a karaoke restaurant in the Andean town of Huancane left 10 people dead, including eight students, and seriously injured three others, local authorities said Friday, December 5.
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe’s demographic needs from its political choices.
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Île Longue submarine base in western Brittany, officials confirmed on Friday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with world leaders, sports stars, and FIFA officials on hand to finalise matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, the first by a German President to the UK in 27 years, comes as the two countries continue to strengthen ties post-Brexit.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to cooperate more closely on geopolitics, trade and the environment, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine.
Indonesia's military stepped up its relief efforts in three provinces on Sumatra island that have been devastated by deadly floods and landslides, and the country's vice president apologised for shortcomings in the response to last week's disaster.
Authorities in Senegal have launched urgent measures to prevent a potential oil spill after water entered the engine room of the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Mersin off the coast of Dakar, the port authority said on Sunday.
The death toll from devastating floods across Southeast Asia climbed to at least 183 people on Friday (28 November). Authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka struggle to rescue stranded residents, restore power and communications, and deliver aid to cut-off communities.
At least 47 people have died and another 21 are reported missing following ten days of heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides across Sri Lanka, local media reported on Thursday (27 November).
Rescuers in Thailand readied drones on Thursday to airdrop food parcels, as receding floodwaters in the south and neighbouring Malaysia brightened hopes for the evacuation of those stranded for days, while cyclone havoc in Indonesia killed at least 28.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment