Firefighters battle huge blaze threatening village outside Athens

·

A major wildfire northwest of the Greek capital devoured large tracts of pine forest for a third day on Wednesday and threatened a large village as hundreds of firefighters, assisted by water-dropping planes and helicopters, battled the flames.

The blaze in the Vilia area broke out on Monday shortly after another wildfire started to the southwest of Athens. Several other villages and a nearby nursing home received evacuation orders.

On Wednesday, a shift in the winds drove the flames towards Vilia, 60 kilometers from Athens. Greek media said several outlying buildings were damaged, but no injuries were reported and no evacuation order was issued for the village.

An aircraft drops water over a a wildfire in Vilia area some 60 kilometers northwest of Athens. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

Clouds of smoke obscured the sun, which cast an otherworldly, orange light over the capital.

Local mayor, Christos Stathis, told Open TV that the fire was within a few dozen yards from Vilia, and appealed for firefighting aircraft to be deployed to the spot.

Hundreds of wildfires have burned across Greece this month, fueled by parched forests and shrubland from the country’s most severe heat wave in decades.

READ MORE: Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day.

The blazes have stretched the country’s firefighting capabilities to the limit, leading the government to appeal for international help, including through a European Union emergency response system. About two dozen European and Middle Eastern countries responded, sending planes, helicopters, vehicles and hundreds of firefighters.

READ MORE: Australian helicopters arrive in Athens and prepare to fight wildfires across Greece.

Greece’s fire department said 430 firefighters, including 143 from Poland, were deployed at the Vilia fire on Wednesday, along with 130 vehicles, 19 helicopters and 10 planes. The army, volunteer firefighters and local authorities also provided assistance.

By midday on Wednesday, an estimated 7,500 hectares (18.500 acres) of forest had been destroyed in the area.

A firefighter extinguishes a fire during a wildfire in Vilia. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

The causes of the fires have not been officially established, although more than a dozen people have been arrested on suspicion of arson.

State ERT TV reported that a 14-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday in central Greece on suspicion of setting at least 13 fires in recent days — including one that raged out of control destroying homes and forest land. Quoting local officials, ERT said the suspect was caught on CCTV cycling away from spots where fires had started. The boy’s parents were arrested for neglect, ERT said.

READ MORE: Melbourne’s Greek community come together to help those fighting the fires in Greece.

Source: AP News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Victorian football community mourns after the passing of Heidelberg United’s Keely Lockhart

The Victorian football community is in mourning following the heartbreaking news of Keely Lockhart’s tragic passing.

Alexia Apostolakis debuts for Matildas in narrow defeat to Panama

Greek Australian teenager Alexia Apostolakis made her senior debut for the CommBank Matildas on Saturday. Read more here.

Greek government to host online seminar for Greeks abroad on tax, business and relocation

An online information seminar designed specifically for Greeks living abroad will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Erin Patterson found guilty of mushroom lunch murders

Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her relatives by intentionally serving them a meal laced with deadly mushrooms.

Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers set to launch in Athens

The world’s most distinguished Hellenic legal minds are set to gather in Athens for the inaugural Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers 2025.

You May Also Like

Legal battle over Cyprus Community of NSW continues as appeal looms

The ongoing legal dispute surrounding the Cyprus Community of NSW Limited has taken another turn, with new legal filings.

Iron Boy: How five words changed Arthur Bozikas’ life

Over 8,600 needle sticks, 700 blood transfusions, and 2,200 blood packs later and Arthur Bozikas OAM is defying the odds.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis reunite as doubles partners at Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis will team up once again as doubles partners at the 2025 Australian Open.