The forest fire ravages the neighborhoods of Athens, threatens homes and lives

A fast-spreading wildfire has been wreaking havoc in neighborhoods near the Greek capital, Athens, forcing authorities to call for evacuations. The fire, which started on Sunday near the city of Varnavas, has been fought by 685 firefighters and 32 aerial water bombardment units. The situation has been exacerbated by strong winds, prolonged drought and dense, unburned forest terrain, making the fire extremely dangerous and difficult to control.

Despite the relentless efforts of emergency crews, the fire showed no signs of abating, with 40 outbreaks recorded since Monday morning. The size of the fire has not been officially reported, but is estimated to be over 30 kilometers (about 19 miles). It has been seen that the forest fire broke out near the houses, with some meters burning. Some residents have chosen to stay behind to try to save their homes.

The wildfire is moving towards Penteli, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Athens, with great momentum. This area is located at the foot of Mount Penteli, surrounded by wooded areas. Residents have described the sight of flames and choking smoke as heartbreaking and terrifying.

The situation has been further complicated by unpredictable wind directions and suffocating smoke. Neighbors reported difficulty seeing and breathing due to the smoke. In one incident, a resident crashed his car into a pine tree while trying to escape the fire.

Forest fires are a regular occurrence in Greek summers, but climate scientists suggest that unusually warm and dry weather linked to global warming is making the flames more intense and frequent. Greek authorities have already battled dozens of fires this summer, after the country's hottest June and July on record.

Since Sunday, health and emergency personnel have treated 15 people, including two firefighters, for burns and respiratory injuries. Three hospitals in the Attica region are on high alert and two dozen children were evacuated from a hospital in Penteli. The wildfire has raised concerns of a repeat of last summer's devastating fires that burned several regions and islands, including the densely forested national park of Athens.