The City of Marathon Evacuated – Large Fire Rages

Inhabitants of the historic city of Marathon in Greece are being evacuated due to a large forest fire raging in the area, the rescue service reports. The fire has put parts of the capital city Athens under a smoke cloud.

» Published: August 11 2024

The City of Marathon Evacuated – Large Fire Rages
Photo: Michael Varaklas/AP/TT

Share this article

First, the most sparsely populated town of Varnáva, three miles northeast of Athens, was evacuated, where a large fire is raging. Later in the evening, the rescue service announced that the city of Marathon and some suburbs of Athens would also be evacuated.

Over 30,000 residents have been ordered to leave Marathon and head towards the coastal town of Néa Mákri.

The smoke development from the fire was so intense that in parts of Athens, the sky was covered in reddish smoke. Flames 25 meters high were reported from the fire area.

Winds hinder

Strong gusty winds are hindering the firefighting efforts, according to Kostas Lagouvardos, head of the National Observatory in Athens. At the same time, temperatures of 39 degrees are expected on Monday.

The fire is moving quickly towards a lake that is an important water reservoir for Athens. An unknown number of houses have burned down, said Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, spokesperson for the rescue service, in the evening.

Over 250 firefighters, 67 vehicles, 12 firefighting planes, and six helicopters are fighting the fire in Varnáva. The military is on standby to intervene.

A fire that started in the afternoon in the historic city of Megara, about four miles northwest of Athens, has been partially extinguished.

Burning in several places

During the past 24 hours, the rescue service has managed to extinguish 33 out of 40 fires, according to Vathrakogiannis.

The fire risk is extremely high in half of Greece due to drought and strong gusty winds, announced Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Saturday.

Greece has had the hottest summer in a long time. Both June and July saw record-breaking heat.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Gaza Toddler Shamm Finds New Hope with Treatment in Italy
2 MIN READ

Gaza Toddler Shamm Finds New Hope with Treatment in Italy

Russia Boosts Drone Production to 2,700 Monthly
1 MIN READ

Russia Boosts Drone Production to 2,700 Monthly

Hamas Threat to Israel: Analysts Say Eradication Unlikely
7 MIN READ

Hamas Threat to Israel: Analysts Say Eradication Unlikely

Thousands Gather in Milan to Honor Fashion Icon Giorgio Armani
1 MIN READ

Thousands Gather in Milan to Honor Fashion Icon Giorgio Armani

Zelensky Rejects Putin's Moscow Meeting Invitation
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Rejects Putin's Moscow Meeting Invitation

Israel Urges Gaza Residents to Move to New Humanitarian Zone
1 MIN READ

Israel Urges Gaza Residents to Move to New Humanitarian Zone

Norway Election Poll: Red-Greens Lead as Høyre Faces Historic Low
2 MIN READ

Norway Election Poll: Red-Greens Lead as Høyre Faces Historic Low

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches
1 MIN READ

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions
3 MIN READ

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club
2 MIN READ

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands
1 MIN READ

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release
1 MIN READ

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department
1 MIN READ

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah
1 MIN READ

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables
2 MIN READ

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War
2 MIN READ

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis
1 MIN READ

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution
4 MIN READ

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister
2 MIN READ

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister