Wildfire Aftermath
In August 2024, a series of severe wildfires broke out near Athens, Greece, exacerbated by extreme heat, prolonged drought, and strong winds. These fires followed a summer that saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the country. The most intense fires occurred about 35 kilometers northeast of Athens, in areas like Varnavas and Marathon. Several neighbourhoods and towns were evacuated as flames reached the city’s outskirts, forcing residents and even some hospitals and monasteries to be evacuated.
The fires were particularly challenging for firefighters due to shifting winds, which frequently reignited blazes after they were partially controlled. Hundreds of firefighters, including international support from neighbouring countries like Romania, battled the flames with air and ground units. Despite the efforts, the smoke and ash reached into Athens itself, disrupting daily life with hazardous air quality and causing power outages in several areas.
These wildfires were part of a larger trend of devastating blazes that plagued Greece during the summer, attributed to rising temperatures linked to climate change
The fires were particularly challenging for firefighters due to shifting winds, which frequently reignited blazes after they were partially controlled. Hundreds of firefighters, including international support from neighbouring countries like Romania, battled the flames with air and ground units. Despite the efforts, the smoke and ash reached into Athens itself, disrupting daily life with hazardous air quality and causing power outages in several areas.
These wildfires were part of a larger trend of devastating blazes that plagued Greece during the summer, attributed to rising temperatures linked to climate change