Hundreds of firefighters in Greece continued efforts on Tuesday to contain a massive fire that has engulfed several hectares of land in the suburbs north of Athens and killed at least one person.
Authorities say the body of a woman was found in the ruins of a burning factory in Vrilissia, about 14 kilometers from the Greek capital. It is the first reported casualty since the fire broke out on Sunday near the village of Varnavas, about 35 kilometers north of central Athens. The fire was spread in dry pine forests by strong winds. The flames reached a height of 25 meters.
Over 700 firefighters are participating in the operation, with the help of planes that are throwing water to extinguish the flames. The massive fire has destroyed many homes and businesses and surrounded Athens with plumes of smoke and ash.
The European Union announced on Monday that it has activated the bloc's civil protection mechanism at the request of the Greek government, which is providing more firefighters and firefighting equipment.
Meteorologists say the situation remains dangerous on Tuesday, as temperatures are expected to reach at least 38 degrees Celsius and wind speeds are expected to reach between 39 kilometers and 60 kilometers per hour.
On Monday, residents in the suburbs of Athens were ordered to evacuate. About 380 police officers assisted with the evacuation and helped relocate over 250 people.
Some residents who did not follow evacuation orders were later trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters.
An orphanage, a children's hospital, a military hospital and two monasteries were evacuated on Monday.
This summer, Greece experienced the hottest months on record, following the warmest winter ever recorded for this Mediterranean country. Officials attribute these conditions to climate change, which has made fires in the country more frequent and larger.
The created situation has brought back the memories of the fires of 2018 that broke out in the coastal city of Mati, causing the death of 104 people.
