Towns and villages near Athens are being evacuated as wildfires threaten to devour the Greek capital. On Monday, authorities ordered the evacuation of hospitals, a monastery, and more than a dozen other locations as a major fire approached. The conflagration, which hundreds of firefighters are combating, is just the latest in a summer that has seen Greece hit record highs. Continue reading the list of 4 items. List one of four. Week in Pictures: From protests by farmers in Europe to wildfires in Chile (list 2 of 4). The UN weather service has issued a’red alert’ over climate change following a record heat list. 3 of 4 Greece closes Acropolis and schools in preparation for a 43°C heatwave (list 4 of 4). Is the world capable of stopping the climate?

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said the fire was blazing on two fronts, with some parts in extremely difficult-to-access places on a mountain northeast of Athens. “Despite a hard battle and superhuman efforts overnight, the fire spread very fast and has reached Mount Penteli,” a fire department officer told Reuters. Authorities were confronted with “an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances,” Kikilias stated. Strong winds aggravated the conditions.

Authority were confronted with “an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances,” Kikilias stated. Strong winds aggravated the conditions. A children’s hospital, a military hospital, two monasteries, and a children’s home were evacuated early Monday, and evacuation orders were issued for more than a dozen localities, including numerous Athens suburbs. Three Athens hospitals were placed on high alert to treat any possible injuries. Police helped with the evacuations, and several inhabitants spent the night in shelters. According to local media, two firefighters were mildly hurt, while several people received treatment for smoke inhalation

The fire service reported that 670 firemen, supported by 27 wildfire-fighting teams and more than 80 members of the armed forces, were combating the blaze. Over 180 vehicles were deployed, while over 30 water-dropping planes and helicopters provided aerial support. Advertisement