# Wildfire engulfs houses in suburbs of Athens Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-08-03 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Wildfire engulfs Greek summer camp and homes near Athens Meta Description: Children evacuated, residents flee homes, firefighters fight blaze near Athens. Stay updated on Greece's ongoing struggle with wildfires. URL: https://financedigest.com/wildfire-engulfs-houses-in-suburbs-of-athenshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-08-03t145922z1lynxmpeh720x5rtroptp4europe-weather-greece-wildfires-1736838073222-compressed.jpg) By Angeliki Koutantou ATHENS (Reuters) -Children were evacuated from a Greek summer camp and residents fled their homes on Tuesday as a wildfire raged uncontrolled on the outskirts of Athens in Greece’s worst heatwave in over 30 years. More than 300 firefighters with 35 vehicles and 10 aircraft battled the blaze in a densely vegetated area in the suburb of Varympopi, on the lower slopes of Mount Parnitha. The fire engulfed an unknown number of homes, to the sound of explosions. Equestrian clubs let horses loose to flee the fire. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited a fire brigade operations [centre coordinating](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-grain-export-coordination-centre-opens-in-istanbul.html "Ukraine grain export coordination centre opens in Istanbul") efforts to contain the blaze and other fires, in the Peloponnese Peninsula and on the islands of Evia and Kos. All available means and resources have been [deployed in the fight on multiple fronts,” his office said in a statement](https://www.financedigest.com/deployed-raises-4m-to-redefine-how-statements-of-work-are-created-and-projects-are-planned.html "Deployed raises M to redefine how Statements Of Work are created and projects are planned"). In these difficult times, the [priority is to protect human lives.”](https://www.financedigest.com/malaysias-new-pm-anwar-says-first-priority-is-cost-of-living.html "Malaysia’s new PM Anwar says first priority is cost of living") About 80 children had to [leave the summer camp and residents were ordered out of their homes](https://www.financedigest.com/olympics-belarus-sprinter-leaves-tokyo-for-vienna-after-refusing-to-go-home.html "Olympics-Belarus sprinter leaves Tokyo for Vienna after refusing to go home") in the suburbs of Varympopi, Adames and Thrakomakedones, some 20 km north of central Athens, although some stayed to defend their houses with garden hoses. Dozens of homes are being burnt,” Michalis Vrettos, deputy mayor of the Acharnes region, told [Open TV as thick plumes of smoke rose over the houses](https://www.financedigest.com/prime-minister-of-liechtenstein-welcomes-house-of-blockchain-at-opening-ceremony-in-vaduz.html "Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Welcomes House of Blockchain at Opening Ceremony in Vaduz") behind him. Four people were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties, [local television reported](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-sweden-to-begin-nato-application-in-may-say-local-media-reports.html "Finland, Sweden to begin NATO application in May, say local media reports"). In Athens, the [power grid](https://www.financedigest.com/first-winter-cold-snap-tests-french-power-grid.html "First winter cold snap tests French power grid") operator IPTO said the fire had damaged parts of the grid, posing a major risk to the electricity supply in parts of the metropolitan region. The fire also disrupted train services and forced authorities to seal off part of a national motorway. Temperatures of more than 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and high winds have fanned more than 100 [wildfires in different areas of Greece in recent days](https://www.financedigest.com/greek-villagers-try-to-save-homes-as-wildfires-burn-for-eighth-day.html "Greek villagers try to save homes as wildfires burn for eighth day"). On Tuesday, some places recorded temperatures of over 46 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit). [Europe is grappling with a summer of extreme weather](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-unveils-hi-tech-satellite-to-speed-up-extreme-weather-warnings.html "Europe unveils hi-tech satellite to speed up extreme weather warnings"), from heavy flooding in the north to the severe heatwaves and fires that have engulfed several areas in the Mediterranean region. Greece’s neighbour, Turkey, was fighting wildfires near some of its most popular tourist resorts for a seventh consecutive day on Tuesday. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos, Karolina Tagaris and Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Alison Williams and Kevin Liffey) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---