Unprecedented fires that have engulfed southern Europe caused the first casualties in Greece. The situation is critical, the wind continues to spread fires.
The fires north of the Greek capital, Athens, have not yet been extinguished, as new fires are always being created that spread quickly by the wind. Recently, the small town of Aegios Stefanos, 25 km away from Athens, was also threatened by fires. Television footage shows police forcing even the last 10,000 residents of the city to leave their homes, many people fled in panic, but there are also those who do not want to leave.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling mass fires with help from France, Sweden, Romania, Cyprus and Switzerland.
A 38-year-old man north of Athens died after being hit by an electric pole.
The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Konstantions Michalos, also died near the Prime Minister, and he was found dead in his factory very close to the fires.
Two firefighters were also taken to hospital in critical condition. Many others went to hospitals with burns or smoke poisoning.
Thousands have already lost their homes. The government is meanwhile offering free accommodation in hotels, but many people want to return to their homes when they have not been burned or when the risk of fires appears to be gone.
With temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees Celsius Greece is experiencing an unusual heat.
Civil Protection notifies citizens across the country by SMS about the “extreme risk of fires in the coming days.
“If some people are still asking if climate change is a reality, they should come here,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a visit to the area where the fires broke out.
