The current heat wave is expected to reach 42°C in parts of the Greece on Friday.

On Thursday, a large wildfire on the outskirts of Athens forced Greek authorities to issue evacuation orders for five towns, as firefighters battled to contain the flames, which have already destroyed several homes in the area.

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“The fire is currently out of control. We still don’t know how many homes may have burned, as the fire passed through residential areas. Winds are very strong and are heading toward Jarakas,” said Dimitris Loukas, mayor of the Lavreotiki municipality.

More than 160 firefighters with 64 vehicles, 12 aircraft and another 12 water-dropping helicopters are operating near the small coastal town of Thymari, about 22 miles (35 kilometers) southeast of Athens, where the fire was first reported. Shortly after the fire broke out, both Thymari and a second coastal village, Tourkolimano, slightly farther south, were evacuated.

Flames swept through Thymari, damaging and destroying multiple homes. Strong winds have pushed the blaze east and south, prompting authorities to evacuate three more towns, including the coastal area of Jarakas.

The five evacuated communities have a combined permanent population of more than 1,000, but the region is a popular summer destination for Athenians, meaning the actual number of evacuees is likely much higher.

Greek police have gone door-to-door to ensure no residents remain trapped by the flames. Officers have had to physically remove about 40 people who refused to leave their homes.

The coast guard is also on high alert, patrolling the shoreline with several vessels in case a maritime evacuation becomes necessary, said fire department spokesperson Vassilis Varthakogiannis.

A special investigative team has been dispatched to the area amid reports from residents suggesting the fire may have been caused by human activity.

Greece is currently facing a heat wave, with temperatures nearing 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) and expected to reach 108 degrees (42 Celsius) in parts of the country on Friday — significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.

A firefighter sustained a minor hand injury while responding to a separate blaze near the town of Tsigouna on the island of Crete. That fire has since been brought under control.

Meanwhile, 450 firefighters remain on alert on the island of Chios to prevent a flare-up of a massive wildfire that has burned more than 4,100 hectares of forest and farmland since the weekend. In the last 24 hours, 45 wildfires have been reported across Greece, most of which were extinguished before spreading.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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