Greek firefighters raced to contain a major wildfire burning on the outskirts of Athens for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, with calmer winds allowing aircraft to intensify efforts against the blaze.
More than 500 firefighters and over 30 aircraft were deployed around Mount Kithairon, about 60 kilometres northwest of Athens, where authorities continued battling active fire fronts and smoldering hotspots.
"We want to keep the fire in a controlled situation," fire department deputy spokesperson Yiannis Artopios told state broadcaster ERT, warning that strong gusts could still trigger new flare-ups.
Civil protection authorities kept the greater Athens area and the nearby island of Evia under near-maximum wildfire risk, while forecasters warned temperatures are expected to climb later this week.
Thousands of hectares scorched
According to Greece's National Observatory of Athens, wildfires have burned around 70,000 hectares across the Attica region over the past nine years.
The latest blaze has already scorched an estimated 14,000 hectares, with satellite data showing repeated flare-ups and new fire fronts, researchers said.
The fire has spread through areas previously devastated by major wildfires in 2009 and 2021, with researchers noting it has advanced towards remaining forest that escaped earlier fires.
Officials warned that homes built within or near forests continue to face heightened danger, calling for changes in urban planning and stronger fire prevention measures as climate change fuels more frequent and intense wildfires.
The current wildfire crisis has claimed five firefighters' lives since last week, including two killed in a helicopter collision while battling flames near Athens.
Police have arrested two people in connection with the Porto Germeno fire, which authorities believe may have been sparked by a faulty power cable.
