Greece Orders Evacuations Near Athens as Wildfires Rage

Aug 12, 2024 | Greece ordered the evacuation of hospitals and homes near Athens as wildfires spread across the area, the fire brigade said. At least five more communities were told to flee by civil protection authorities on Monday, after hundreds of people evacuated the previous day from at least eight villages. “Civil protection forces battled hard throughout the night, but despite superhuman efforts, the fire evolved rapidly,” fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. The brigade deployed 510 firefighters, 152 vehicles and 29 aircraft, he added.