Western Europe’s wildfire crisis retreats as Greece evacuates hundreds near Athens

Wildfires are raging across Europe, with Greece facing the immediate danger as gale-force winds push flames deeper into the Athens region. Fresh evacuations have been ordered as the fires threaten villages and an industrial district outside Megara, west of the capital. Violent wind gusts are hampering firefighting efforts, particularly preventing aircraft from collecting water.

In France, the country's largest wildfire, though contained, continues to burn across 420 square kilometers, an area four times the size of Paris. This blaze, along with a second fire in Provence, has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and holiday sites. Firefighters and emergency services are stretched thin responding to these simultaneous disasters.

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People using olive branches to beat back the flames in the Megara valley.

Spain's major fires have finally stopped advancing, offering a slight reprieve. However, the overall crisis in France and Spain alone has displaced roughly a third of a million people, emptying communities at the peak of summer.

Scientists emphasize that these extreme fire conditions are exacerbated by human-caused climate change. Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, leading to drier forests and scrubland that are more susceptible to ignition and rapid spread. Research indicates that climate change has doubled the likelihood of the extreme conditions fueling these devastating fires.

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A firefighting helicopter flies over a wildfire near Porto Germeno in Attica. High winds later hampered aircraft.