Firefighters reported on Monday that the forest fires that erupted near Athens over the weekend have been contained, but new fires have started in other areas as officials have cautioned of a challenging fire season to come.
A couple of fires started on Sunday in the wooded neighborhood of Stamata and the beach resort of Keratea, east of Athens, driven by winds as high as 70 kilometers per hour (43 miles per hour) and dry weather.
Residents in Stamata were evacuated by authorities, and a 45-year-old man passed away from cardiac arrest while attempting to escape the fire, according to police.
Many cars and buildings were destroyed by the flames.
By Monday, firefighters had brought most of the flames under control, said fire department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis.
“The fires were contained by firefighters, supported on Sunday by water bombers and helicopters, who fought in very dangerous conditions,” he said.
He added that the easing of the winds had helped control most of the fires across the country.
“The lungs of Athens” the Mount Parnitha area saw a wildfire break out on Saturday afternoon. Volunteer firefighters and reinforcements from neighboring areas helped contain the fire by Saturday night.
However, fresh fires were starting; on Monday, the Greek fire brigade reported 52 new blazes.
According to Vathrakogiannis, 142 firefighters, seven planes, and three helicopters were sent to attempt and douse the worst of the fires, which were burning on the Aegean island of Chios.
He also mentioned that two firefighters had minor injuries during the operation.
Eight planes and over 100 firefighters were sent to combat another fire on the well-known international tourist island of Kos.
Authorities there called on residents and visitors to evacuate several areas threatened by flames.
The island’s mayor, Theodosis Nikitaras, said on Facebook that public buildings could accommodate residents and visitors fleeing the fires.
Greece is a popular tourist destination, but following its warmest winter and earliest heatwave on record with June highs of 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) it confronts a challenging wildfire season.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised the efforts of the fire department, pointing out that the Stamata and Mount Parnitha fires had burned less than 100 hectares (247 acres).
However, he issued a warning, stating that Greece has “now entered the heart of the fire season” and urging Greeks to take precautions to avoid fires.
“The fight against fires will continue… it will certainly not be won without the help of citizens,” Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting.
Scientists caution that human-caused emissions of fossil fuels are increasing the frequency and severity of heatwaves worldwide.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claims that rising temperatures are causing wildfire seasons to last longer and burning more land.
