A wildfire near Greece’s capital darkens the skies over Athens and advances fast
A wildfire near Greece’s capital darkens the skies over Athens and advances fast
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Hadrian’s Arch in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
A tree burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A helicopter drops water near Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Firefighters inspect flames near a road in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house is on fire in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A car burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke rises from a wildfire that broke out in Varnava village, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A firefighter adjusts his helmet in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A firefighter sprays water with a hose in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
The sun sets behinds burned trees in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke, lighted by fire, rises near Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Hadrian’s Arch in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. (AP Photo/Derek Gatopoulos)
A tree burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A tree burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A helicopter drops water near Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A helicopter drops water near Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Firefighters inspect flames near a road in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Firefighters inspect flames near a road in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house is on fire in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house is on fire in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A car burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A car burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke rises from a wildfire that broke out in Varnava village, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke rises from a wildfire that broke out in Varnava village, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A firefighter adjusts his helmet in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A firefighter adjusts his helmet in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A firefighter sprays water with a hose in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A firefighter sprays water with a hose in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
The sun sets behinds burned trees in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
The sun sets behinds burned trees in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, with many regions of the country on high alert due to high temperatures and wind speeds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke, lighted by fire, rises near Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
Smoke, lighted by fire, rises near Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A house burns in Varnava village during a wildfire, north of Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Many regions of the country are on high alert due to high temperatures and winds. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A wildfire burned northeast of Athens on Sunday, darkening the sky as the smell of smoke and soot pervaded the Greek capital.
More than 400 firefighters, 110 fire engines and a large number of volunteers were fighting the fire, which broke out around 3 p.m. local time around 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Athens. The 15 firefighting planes and nine helicopters were operating by late afternoon but stopped at sunset.
The flames were moving fast toward Lake Marathon, an important reservoir supplying Athens with water, said Fire Col. Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, a spokesman for the fire department. An unknown number of houses have been damaged.
Vathrakogiannis said winds reached gale force strength in the area of the fire and flames exceeded 25 meters (80 feet) in height. Residents of the villages near the area of the fire have been warned by emergency text messaging to evacuate.
Late in the afternoon, messages were also sent to residents of some northern Athens suburbs to do the same. Police said they evacuated more than 200 individuals, mostly elderly and others who did not heed the warnings.
Another fire that broke out west of Athens has been contained, the spokesman said.
Hot and dry weather, made worse by strong winds, increases the danger of wildfires. June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, which also recorded its warmest winter ever.
Both meteorologists and government officials have warned of the heightened danger of wildfires because of weather conditions from Sunday until Thursday. Half of the country will be under a “red alert,” Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said.