A major wildfire has raged across the northern suburbs of Athens in Greece, leaving at least one person dead and triggering multiple evacuations as swirling winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes. Pics/AFP (Text/AP)
Updated On: 2024-08-13 08:23 PM IST
Compiled by : Asif Ali Sayed
The fire department said shortly after midnight that firefighters found a body in a burnt building in the suburb of Vrilissia, but was unable to immediately provide further details
The blaze started Sunday near Lake Marathon, about 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of Athens, coursed across Mount Pendeli and reached the capital's northern suburbs
It burnt several homes and businesses in the city suburbs and in communities near the lake
Greece went on high alert but by late night Monday, a drop in winds offered hope and officials reported progress against the massive, fast-moving blaze that spawned flames over 25 metres (80 feet) high
Fire Department spokesperson Col Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said firefighters were longer battling a single front but many active localized blazes, mostly around Marathon and Pendeli
The Marathon area was the site of a famous battle between Greeks and Persians in 490 BC and hosts a museum and archaeological site, but there were no immediate reports of damage from the blaze to either
Greek firefighters were to be boosted by forces from other countries as early as Tuesday, after Athens sought international assistance, activating Europe's mutual civil protection mechanism
A blanket of smoke and ash shrouded central Athens while power cuts hit parts of the Greek capital and affected traffic lights at major central junctions
