Greek firefighters battle wildfire near Athens resort town

Greek firefighters are struggling to contain a wildfire raging near the popular tourist destination of Porto Germeno, approximately 70 kilometers from the capital, Athens. Over 300 firefighters are on the scene, but strong winds are making their efforts extremely difficult, hindering the operation of firefighting planes and helicopters.

The blaze has reached the sea, and officials have confirmed that some homes have been destroyed. The wind, with gusts up to 130 kilometers per hour, is a major challenge. Some aircraft have been redirected to combat another fire on the Peloponnese peninsula where weather conditions are more favorable.

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The fire has reached the sea, and there are definitely houses that have been destroyed.

The environmental impact is severe, with at least 4,000 hectares of land scorched. Residents in the affected areas were initially urged to evacuate, but some refused, later requiring rescue by boat. Fires have also broken out or reignited across Greece amid dry summer conditions, affecting both the mainland and popular islands like Lesbos and Crete, where three firefighters have tragically died.

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The damage to the environment is enormous.