Panic in Greece as wildfires erupt and children's hospital evacuated under 38C smoke plume
A village and a town in Greece have so far been evacuated, with several regions on high alert for more wildfires.
Raging wildfires have forced the evacuation of a children’s hospital in Greece, including five youngsters who were in intensive care at the time.
Thick smoke billowed over the capital, Athens, with locals in two areas nearby urged to leave their homes. Wildfires have broken out in the village of Varnava, north of the capital, where nearly 200 firefighters are battling the flames.
"The fire has been contained and the Penteli Children's Hospital is structurally safe."
More than 400 firefighters, 110 fire engines and a large number of volunteers were fighting the massive wildfire, which broke out around 3 pm local time around (22 miles) from Athens. The 15 firefighting planes and nine helicopters were dropping waterbombs throughout the afternoon but stopped at sunset.
Fire crews were also tackling a fire in a forested area near the town of Megara, west of Athens.
The fires sent thick brown smoke over parts of Athens.
Several other regions across Greece were on high alert for fire risk on Sunday and Monday.
The flames are moving fast toward Lake Marathon, an important reservoir supplying Athens with water, said Fire Colonel Vassileios Vathrakogiannis, a spokesman for the fire department.
An unknown number of houses have been damaged.
Hundreds of wildfires have erupted across Greece this summer, following the hottest June and July on record after the warmest winter.
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Similar to other parts of the Mediterranean, scientists have attributed the increasingly hot and dry conditions to climate change.
According to the weather maps, the temperature levels are likely to soar to 43C in Greece by the end of this month.
The temperature levels may possibly reach the abnormally high mark on August 22, maps show.
Meteorologists and government officials have warned of an increased wildfire risk due to weather conditions from Sunday to Thursday.
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias stated that half of the country will be on "red alert."
