Greece fights wildfires near Athens and islands amid heatwave evacuations

Reuters

Firefighters in Greece are battling wildfires near Athens and on several islands as the country swelters under its third heatwave of the summer. Villages have been evacuated as flames spread through dry terrain, fanned by strong winds and record temperatures.

In Drosopigi, 25 km north of Athens, huge clouds of smoke rose as explosions were heard near factories holding flammable materials. Two houses caught fire, while residents of nearby Krioneri were told to head towards Athens.

On Evia island, 115 firefighters, assisted by aircraft and helicopters, struggled to contain the blaze amid high winds. Villages on Kythera and in Messinia were also evacuated.

Temperatures were forecast to reach 44°C on Saturday. Scientists warn Greece and other Mediterranean nations are increasingly vulnerable to devastating summer fires as the climate warms.

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