Wildfire Threatens Hometown of Olympic Games in Greece
© REUTERS / Costas Baltas
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ATHENS (Sputnik) - A resurgent wildfire spreads near the ancient Greek site of Archaia Olympia, threatening to consume a site famed as the birthplace of Olympic Games, Nikos Hardalias, the deputy minister for civil protection and crisis management, said on Friday.
"We have a new fire front today in Ancient Olympia. There are 310 firefighters deployed there", Hardalias said at a briefing.
The site of the Olympics birthplace saw one of the worst wildfires over the past few days. Residents from 32 nearby settlements were evacuated. The fire approached the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the International Olympic Academy.
The Greek authorities are evacuating people from Lake Marathon in eastern Attica, which is a major source of water for Athens.
Ancient Olympia, in Greece 🇬🇷, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, is on fire 🔥. The first photo is taken by drone and the second photo is taken from space. So sad. pic.twitter.com/3uQu0LTQxn
— Norman Allin (@NormanAllin) August 6, 2021
The wildfire situation in Attica and Euboea is getting worse due to strong winds.
Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, is evacuated as more than 170 Greek firefighters, six helicopters and water-bombing aircraft battle to bring major fire under control. #Olympia #greeceisburning https://t.co/yFjZoPO1Xi pic.twitter.com/pQ1hjQ399v
— European Association of Archaeologists (@archaeologyEAA) August 5, 2021
Greece and other countries in the southeast Mediterranean region are experiencing the worst heatwave since 1987. Temperatures are rising to 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit), which, in combination with the dry climate and strong winds, have fueled intense wildfires throughout the area in recent weeks.
On Thursday, a total of 60 villages and settlements were evacuated in southern Greece, with 57 out of 99 fires detected on Thursday still burning into the evening.
