Greece was hit by several fires today, as thick smoke mixed with fog covered parts of the capital Athens, with warnings growing about severe weather conditions expected to continue for the rest of the week.
Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias warned yesterday that half of the country was at risk of fires due to high temperatures, strong winds and dry conditions. In the eastern Attica region, a fire broke out in the town of Varnavas in an area of scattered houses, sending smoke so high that the sky over Athens lit up red. The fire brigade said a team of 165 firefighters, 30 vehicles, seven firefighting planes and five helicopters were deployed while Varnavas residents were ordered to evacuate. Another fire broke out in Megara, in western Attica, prompting an evacuation alert. Forty-eight firefighters with 13 vehicles and other volunteers were on the scene, while two planes and two helicopters provided support. In the Thessaloniki region, a fire was partially extinguished in the town of Lagadas: 20 firefighters, 10 vehicles and a helicopter responded to the scene.
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