Athens engulfed by a wildfire, vacation homes damaged

A wildfire broke out today in the southeast of Athens, destroying vacation homes and forested areas.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but authorities say that high temperatures and strong winds are fueling its rapid spread.

Greek television station "ERTnews" reported that several vacation homes had been destroyed and a large area of forest was ablaze.

The civil protection agency issued emergency alerts, urging residents to evacuate the affected coastal area near the town of Palaia Fokaia, which is located about 60 kilometers from Athens.

The area is mainly composed of vacation homes, many of which are owned by Athenians. Police rescued 11 tourists from a vacation home in the danger zone, according to Greek radio.

A fire department spokesperson confirmed that 12 helicopters, 12 firefighting planes, 80 fire engines, and numerous volunteers are engaged in battling the flames.

Temperatures in some parts of Greece have reached around 40 degrees Celsius, accompanied by strong winds.

Civil protection authorities have warned that the combination of extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds can turn even small fires into large blazes within minutes.

“KORÇA BOOM”