Hospitals evacuated as wildfires spread near Greek capital

A children’s hospital has been evacuated as hundreds of firefighters battle to contain a major wildfire near Athens.

The fire has sent a blanket of smoke over the centre of the Greek capital and has forced officials to issue evacuation orders for more than a dozen areas, including the historic town of Marathon.

Fire officials said a military hospital was also being evacuated on Monday.

In an update, authorities said 29 water-dropping planes and helicopters were being deployed in waves as the blaze burns through forest and vegetation on the northern fringes of the city.

Local media reported two firefighters have been slightly injured, while several civilians were being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation.

At first light on Monday, more than 500 firefighters and 16 teams of firefighters specially trained to combat wildfires were battling the flames.

Along with the support from the air, they were also being backed by 152 vehicles and large numbers of volunteers.

Authorities said flames had been towering to more than 25m (82ft) in height as temperatures continued to hover around 35C (95F).

Latest pictures showed buildings alight and damaged infrastructure as fires spread across dry vegetation.

Residents of surrounding villages have been warned by emergency text messaging to evacuate.

Police said they were forced to evacuate more than 200 individuals, mostly elderly and others who did not heed the warnings.

Half of the country is currently under a “red alert” for wildfire hazard, climate crisis and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said.

The wildfire began on Sunday afternoon about 20 miles from Athens, fanned by strong winds and fuelled by the tinder-dry conditions after repeated heatwaves. It is not clear how much land the fires currently cover.

Another fire situated west of Athens had been contained, officials said.

Wildfires in Greece have become more frequent in recent years during increasingly hot, dry summers linked to climate change.

Last year, more than 8,000 blazes broke out, fire brigade data shows.

Since May, hundreds of wildfires have burned across the country, while June and July became the hottest months ever recorded in Greece.

It also followed the country’s warmest winter ever.

Both meteorologists and government officials have warned of the heightened danger of wildfires.

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Climate change is leading to longer and more intense heatwaves and a higher risk of fires across southern Europe.

Greece’s neighbour, North Macedonia, has recently been fighting dozens of wildfires fanned by scorching temperatures and high winds.

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