ATHENS — Greek firefighters were battling two wildfires near Athens on Sunday (June 30) amid strong winds, just hours after managing to contain blazes in a mountainous area also near the capital as well as on an island in the Aegean Sea.

Dozens of firefighters in full gear, backed by 23 water-carrying aircraft, fought with hoses to tame a fire in a sparsely-populated area near the town of Keratea, some 35 kms south of Athens.

Authorities had ordered evacuations before flames from burning pine and olive trees engulfed houses.

Another fire in the community of Stamata north of Athens burned a lush pine forest, sending columns of smoke over parts of the city.

It did not threaten houses so far.


Keratea, Greece, June 30, 2024. 
PHOTO: Reuters


With hot, windy conditions across much of Greece, dozens of wildfires broke out over the weekend and people were advised to stay away from forested areas.

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