Varnavas

A massive wildfire continued to rage unabated in residential areas in northern Athens, prompting more evacuations. 

Residents of northeastern Attica are living hours of agony as the fire that broke out at noon on Sunday (11/8) in Varnavas has reached uncontrollable proportions.

The Ministry of Labor has ordered the suspension of manual outdoor work for private sector employees in northeastern Attica until Tuesday due to the ongoing wildfires.

This includes activities such as construction, technical work and delivery services. Employers in the affected areas must ensure the safety of workers and comply with evacuation orders.

A massive wildfire raged out of control on the outskirts of Athens on Monday, spreading to several residential areas near the Greek capital and forcing thousands to flee their homes.

Thick smoke covers the National Highway in Athens from a wildfire that broke out in a farmland and forest area in Varnavas, Attica region, Greece, 11 August 2024.

Türkiye has offered aid to Greece in its fight against the wildfires that broke out near Athens over the weekend.

Firefighters are now focusing their efforts on Kallitechnoupoli and Grammatiko in eastern Attica, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias said Monday during a news briefing on the wildfires that have been raging since Sunday.

Kikilias noted that conditions have improved in Dionysos, Varnava, and Mikrochori.

Speaking about an extremely dangerous fire that “we are fighting under dramatic conditions,” the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, provided an update on the fire in northeastern Attica shortly after 11 AM.

A fast-moving wildfire fuelled by gale-force winds raged unabated closer to Athens on Monday, burning trees, houses and cars and forcing evacuations of hospitals and at least 11 towns and villages, Greek authorities said.

From 3 PM yesterday, hundreds of firefighters have been waging a titanic and uneven battle against the fire in northeastern Attica, which initially broke out in the Varnava area and has now reached Penteli, threatening Nea Makri as well.

Dramatic hours are unfolding in northeastern Attica as the fire that started in Varnava on Sunday afternoon is “rapidly advancing and has reached Mount Penteli,” as announced by the Fire Department spokesperson shortly before 6 AM today, “despite the superhuman efforts of all civil protection forces.”