Greece has ordered the evacuation of at least 11 towns and villages northeast of Athens due to wildfires that forced the evacuation of the ancient city of Marathon on Tuesday, the Ekathimerini newspaper reported. The flames, fanned by strong winds, burned trees, houses and cars.
More than 560 firefighters, backed by 17 planes and 15 helicopters, are battling the blaze, which broke out on Sunday near Varnavas – 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of the capital – and which has spread across several fronts this morning, including the village of Grammatiko, the city of Marathon, the seaside resort of Nea Makri and Mount Penteli near Athens.
video More fires in Greece, more sites evacuated near Athens
The country was hit by several fires on Sunday, with thick smoke mixed with haze blanketing parts of the capital Athens, as warnings were issued of severe weather conditions expected to continue for the rest of the week. Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias had warned that half of the country would be 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 residents of Varnavas 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 area, a fire was partially extinguished in the city of Lagadas: 20 firefighters, 10 vehicles and a helicopter responded to the scene.
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