A forest fire in Greece has evacuated more than 50,000 people and burned at least 10,000 hectares, EFE reported. The fire began in Varnavas, some 40 kilometres from Athens, but has spread rapidly: dozens of houses and companies from the centres of Vrilissia and Chalandri, situated thirteen kilometres from the centre of the capital. A fire service source has informed the BBC that a person has died in Vrilissia because of the fires and that his body, apparently a woman, has been found inside a shop.

The smoke has covered Athens and nearly 80 people have been hospitalized for respiratory problems. “A total of 702 firefighters are working, with the help of 27 forest command groups, 199 vehicles and volunteers, and with the collaboration of all Civil Protection organizations,” Civil Protection reported in a statement. Authorities have reported that fires have been located at 40 different points on Monday and have observed flames of up to 25 metres in several areas.

Support for the European Union

The Greek Government has asked the European Union (EU) for assistance in the fight against forest fires. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has stated through social media that the EU has sent "support from its fleet", such as two Italian aircraft, a French helicopter and the fire group of the Czech Republic and Romania. However, the French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, has reported that France has sent 180 firefighters, 55 trucks and a helicopter to quell the fires, and that Turkey has announced the dispatch of two planes and one helicopter, according to La Vanguardia. The fire service spokesman, Vasgil Vathrakogiannis, has stated that there is no active fire in the northeastern Atika region, including the sections of Athens, but that “there are many active fires located”, especially around the cities of Marathon and Penteli.

Greece, the hottest summer in its history

In a statement released on Monday night, Vathrakogiannis said that the conditions of the new fires remain dangerous, not only during Tuesday's week, but also during the week. "The winds are very intense and do not help us with the morphology and vegetation of the earth, especially the pines and acebes that burn quickly," a fire spokesman told EFE. Authorities have indicated that until Thursday they are in the highest forest fire alert in the area.

Greece is expected to become the hottest summer in its history. According to Kostas Lagouvardos, research director of the Athens Observatory, Greece is living this year the hottest winter ever recorded, with periods of low rain or no rain, and the hottest of July since records began in 1960, according to El País. In July, the average temperature was 27 degrees Celsius, almost three degrees above the average value of the same month between 1991 and 2020.

Meteorologists and civil protection launch warnings

Meteorologists and civil protection in Greece warned the weekend that the smallest fire in the Aegean Sea area could turn into a major fire in a few minutes. For this reason, Greek Civil Protection prohibited the practice of activities such as the burning of dried grass, the use of machines producing sparks or the elaboration of outdoor grills, among others.

Fires on the outskirts of Athens in summer, frequent in recent years

Although fires on the outskirts of Athens are frequent in summer, this is the first time the fire has spread so close to the centre of the capital, according to EFE. Le Monde spoke to the Greek Asimina, who is currently close to the fire area, and cited the fires of July 2018 in which about 100 people died, “the most traumatic experience of their life.” “Before, I could have hesitated to leave the house or store, after all, it is the investment of a life. But now we have those tragic images in our heads, we meet family members and customers who have lost their family members, and we can't forget that. We can’t take more risks,” said the woman.