Greece wildfire contained as winds prompt evacuations
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A wildfire on the outskirts of Athens has been contained, but evacuations of at-risk areas continue as strong winds are expected through the weekend.
At least one person died and homes and farmlands were destroyed on Friday as wildfires stoked by gale-force winds broke out across Greece, from near the capital to regions around the historical site of Ancient Olympia.
The worst blaze broke out in the small town of Keratea, southwest of the capital, where firefighters discovered the body of an elderly man in a burned-out structure.
A fire brigade spokesperson said on Saturday the fire there was under control but not out.
Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed “a wildfire hot spot” by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers.
These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.
Much of the region around Athens has had barely a drop of rain in months.
Wind gusts of up to 80 km/h fanned the flames around Keratea on Friday, setting olive orchards alight.
Homes were engulfed as locals wearing flimsy face masks assisted firefighters. Police went door to door late at night making sure that homes had been evacuated.
Much of the area smouldered on Saturday morning, and images on local media showed houses gutted by fire.
Other blazes in the region of Ancient Olympia and on the touristy island of Kefalonia appeared to have abated also.
Meanwhile, a massive wildfire that has scorched through 16,000ha of forest and villages in southern France since Tuesday has been contained, local authorities said.
Firefighters will remain deployed in the area in the coming days to secure the site and prevent flare-ups.
Residents affected by the blaze are still barred from returning to their homes without official clearance, as many roads remain closed and potentially hazardous due to uninspected damage and fallen power lines.
France’s biggest wildfire in nearly eight decades has killed a woman whom officials said had disregarded evacuation orders, made 18 injuries, including 16 firefighters.
The blaze destroyed 36 houses, damaged 20 others, and forced some 2000 residents and holidaymakers to flee the area.
Plumes of smoke rose over the forest area in the Aude region. Drone footage showed swathes of charred earth after the fire swept across an area one-and-a-half times the size of Paris.
The blaze, not far from the border with Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, spread unusually rapidly, fanned by strong winds and very dry vegetation, following months of drought in the area.
Close to 2000 firefighters were on the ground to fight any flare-ups.
Reuters
