Fire of colossal scale engulfs the southern region of Athens, prompting the evacuation of several hundred residents from five neighborhoods.
Riotous Forest inferno forces evacuation in coastal town of Thimari
A fiery inferno that ignited on Thursday in the forested region of Thimari, around 35 kilometers southeast of Athens, has forced the exodus of at least five hamlets in the Palaia Fokaia district, including the cores of Turkolimano and Jarakas. The conflagration has shown no signs of abating and authorities fear that hundreds of residents may have been displaced, with many abandoning their summer homes.
The blaze, propelled by aggressive winds and temperatures nearing 40 degrees, has reduced several properties to ashes and instigated an extensive rescue mission involving over 160 firefighters, 64 vehicles, 12 planes, and another dozen helicopters.
Local law enforcement has personally evacuated 40 residents from their doorsteps, while the Coast Guard maintains a presence along the coastline with several patrol vessels on standby for potential seaborne evacuations.
"The fire is spiraling out of control and progressing south," warned the mayor of Lavreotiki, Dimitris Lukas. "At present, we remain unclear about the number of properties affected. Authorities have cordoned off roads and reinforced security perimeters in residential areas."
Probing the origin of the inferno
Meanwhile, a team of investigators is scrutinizing the cause of the inferno, which is suspected to have human origins. Over the past 24 hours, 45 wildfires have erupted across the nation, although most have been contained swiftly, the crisis remains critical with extreme heatwaves expected, with temperatures forecast to peak at 42 degrees next Friday.
On the island of Crete, a firefighter sustained minor injuries while combating a standalone inferno, while on the island of Chios, 450 personnel continue to be stationed following the devastating blaze that ravaged over 4,100 hectares this week.
In an effort to combat the escalating number of forest fires, Greece has fortified its fire brigade this year with 18,000 personnel - the greatest force in recent memory. The government has allocated millions of euros to modernize its resources to combat the harsh consequences of an increasingly unforgiving climate.
Woman detained for arson allegations
Separately, Greek authorities have apprehended a woman suspected of carelessly discarding a cigarette butt that may have sparked one of the forest fires that blighted thousands of hectares and hamstrung numerous homes on the island of Chios.
The suspect has been charged with involuntary arson, according to two firefighters who spoke to Reuters anonymously. Several eyewitnesses testified seeing her toss a cigarette, one official disclosed.
There has been no formal confirmation of the arrest or the suspect's identity. Despite the forest fires being largely quelled on Wednesday, hundreds of firefighters continue their vigil on Chios to prevent them from flaring up amidst this new conflagration ravaging Thimari.
In the southern European region, Greece frequently encounters destructive forest fires during its hot and arid summers, yet authorities assert that climate change is exacerbating the ferocity of these wildfires. The Greek administration has already disbursed millions of euros in damages related to extreme weather events to homeowners and farmers, as well as funding upgrades to firefighting equipment.
The investigators are scrutinizing the cause of the Thimari forest inferno, suspecting it to have human origins, similar to the 45 wildfires that erupted across the nation in the last 24 hours. In a separate incident, a woman was detained for allegedly carelessly discarding a cigarette butt, potentially sparking one of the forest fires that ravaged Chios.
