Thousands flee fires in Greece and Turkey as blazes continue to burn through Europe
- Turkey’s fires, described as the worst in decades, have swept through swathes of the southern coast for the past 10 days, killing eight people
- In Greece, firefighters were battling 56 active fires, and multiple evacuation orders were issued for inhabited areas of the mainland
Thousands of people fled wild fires burning out of control in Greece and Turkey on Friday, including a major blaze just north of the Greek capital of Athens that left one person dead, as a protracted heatwave turned forests into tinderboxes and flames threatened populated areas, electricity installations and historic sites.
Turkey’s fires, described as the worst in decades, have swept through swathes of the southern coast for the past 10 days, killing eight people.
In Greece, firefighters were battling 56 active fires, Civil Protection chief Nikos Hardalias said. Multiple evacuation orders were issued for inhabited areas of the mainland and the nearby island of Evia, while the fire near Athens burned forests and houses in its path heading toward Lake Marathon, the capital’s main water reservoir.
“We continue our effort hour by hour to tackle the multiple fires we face today,” Hardalias said. “Conditions are exceptionally dangerous.” The wind picked up on Friday afternoon in many parts of Greece, increasing the risk of fires.
Athens’ main trauma hospital said a 38-year-old man died after sustaining a head injury from a falling pylon in Ippokrateios Politeia, one of the neighbourhoods north of Athens affected by the fire.