Greece: Wall of Fire Near Athens – Rescuers Struggle to Advance

Residents and tourists in multiple Greek towns, including Alepochori, Psatha, and Zachouli, located approximately 60 kilometers west of Athens, were ordered to evacuate on Saturday evening as a massive wildfire approached. The blaze, fueled by strong winds, spread rapidly, particularly around the village of Porto Germeno, creating a terrifying "wall of fire and smoke."

Aerial firefighting operations were severely hampered by the fierce winds, with helicopters able to make only limited sorties before nightfall forced a halt. On the ground, approximately 500 firefighters, supported by international crews from Romania and France, along with numerous volunteers, struggled to contain the inferno. The flames reportedly soared over 20 meters high, engulfing an estimated 5,000 hectares, an area comparable to the size of the German city of Konstanz.

Heavy machinery, including excavators and water tankers, were dispatched from the Attica region to assist. Excavators worked to create firebreaks in an attempt to slow the fire's advance. Giorgos Dasiotis, the deputy governor of Boeotia, described the situation as "nightmarish," telling ERTNews that "if the wind does not subside, the disaster cannot be stopped."

Hope now rests on the forecast of slightly weaker winds on Sunday, which could allow firefighting planes and helicopters to operate more effectively. Meanwhile, in southwestern France, where intense wildfires recently occurred, the situation has reportedly improved, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stating the fires are "largely under control," though not yet extinguished. The French fires were described as "absolutely unprecedented," attributed to unfavorable weather conditions including wind, high temperatures, and drought.