Athens, Greece – Greek authorities are on high alert as the combination of extreme temperatures and high winds raises the risk of new wildfires in various parts of the country. Areas around Athens, including the capital itself, have been issued extreme fire risk warnings. Severe heat reaching close to 40°C (104°F) is anticipated in Athens this week.
Over the weekend, numerous fires ignited, leading to evacuations of thousands of residents. The fire near Alexandroupoli, near the northeastern border with Turkey, has been particularly concerning. Fires have also been reported in the eastern Rhodope region and the northern city of Kavala.
International support has been dispatched to aid Greek firefighters, with reinforcements arriving from France, Cyprus, and Romania. Tragically, at least one fatality has been attributed to the recent fires. An 80-year-old man reportedly collapsed while attempting to rescue his sheep from the flames in the central Boeotia region north of Athens.
The increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events, including heatwaves and wildfires, have been linked to climate change. This year, Greece has experienced a notably severe wildfire season, prompting the EU’s Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, to remark that “Greece already had by far its worst July since 2008 in terms of wildfires,” and now “the burnt area is bigger and the fires are more intense and more violent, burning more area than before.”
Ioannis Artophios, a spokesperson for the Greek fire service, acknowledged the challenges presented by these “extreme phenomena” and emphasized the need for adaptation. Greece is among several European countries facing a heightened risk of wildfires, as highlighted by the EU’s climate monitoring service, Copernicus.
Simultaneously, wildfires continue to rage on the Spanish island of Tenerife and parts of southern France brace for potentially record-breaking heat. These battles against recurrent wildfires are a stark reminder of the urgency to address climate change and its far-reaching impacts.
