Wildfire near Athens

A fast-moving wildfire near Athens, fueled by hot, windy weather, has forced residents of the village Varnavas to evacuate as flames rapidly spread, consuming trees and homes. The blaze began around 3 p.m. local time and quickly surrounded Varnavas, prompting evacuation alerts for nine nearby areas. Over 400 firefighters, supported by aerial resources, battled the flames, which reached heights of 25 meters due to gale-force winds. The situation remains precarious as aerial firefighting operations were suspended at night, leaving ground crews to manage the advancing fire. Greece has been experiencing an unprecedented number of wildfires this summer, attributed to climate change, after registering its hottest June and July on record. Authorities fear that if the fire is not contained, the situation could worsen significantly in the coming days.