https://sputnikglobe.com/20210520/athens-braces-for-difficult-night-as-fire-destroys-over-5000-acres-of-forest-1082952030.html
Athens Braces for 'Difficult Night' as Fire Destroys Over 5,000 Acres of Forest
Athens Braces for 'Difficult Night' as Fire Destroys Over 5,000 Acres of Forest
Sputnik International
ATHENS (Sputnik) - The ongoing wildfire west of Athens has already affected some 5,000 acres of territory, Greek Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and... 20.05.2021, Sputnik International
2021-05-20T20:59+0000
2021-05-20T20:59+0000
2021-05-20T21:00+0000
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/14/1082951984_0:139:3072:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_620e5712e255689aee4e26ae0c937b82.jpg
athens
greece
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2021
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
News
en_EN
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
europe, newsfeed, athens, greece
europe, newsfeed, athens, greece
Athens Braces for 'Difficult Night' as Fire Destroys Over 5,000 Acres of Forest
20:59 GMT 20.05.2021 (Updated: 21:00 GMT 20.05.2021) ATHENS (Sputnik) - The ongoing wildfire west of Athens has already affected some 5,000 acres of territory, Greek Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management Nikos Chardalias said on Thursday, urging residents to remain vigilant ahead of a "difficult night."
The blaze started on Wednesday evening near the village of Schinos as old branches in an olive grove caught fire.
"That area consists of mostly pine forest that has not been cleared in a while. Approximately 20,000 stremmata [5,000 acres] burned out," Chardalias said at an emergency briefing.
Fire brigades were mobilized from all across the Greek mainland to fight the blaze, according to the official. These included 265 firefighters, multiple planes and a Chinook helicopter.
"This is going to be a difficult night. We ask all residents in the greater area to remain vigilant," Chardalias said.
The official added that several settlements and two monasteries had been evacuated due to the natural disaster. An investigation was launched into potential arson.
