Wildfire near Athens triggers evacuations and highway closures amid heatwave
A massive fire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, triggering emergency evacuations and roadblocks as blazes ravaged housing around the seaside town of Palaia Fokaia.Authorities closed sections of the scenic highway between the Greek capital and Sounion, which features the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a popular tourist destination.GREECE FACES FIRST MAJOR HEATWAVE
The fire broke out while Greece was experiencing its first heatwave of the summer, with temperatures close to 40C (104F). Firefighters fought the fire on the ground and in the air, struggling against the fierce heat and changing winds that made it difficult to contain.advertisement"Strong ground and aerial forces are fighting an enormous battle with the fire, especially in residential areas," fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis reported.AIR AND SEA FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS DEPLOYED As reported by the Associated Press, the firefighting effort involved 130 personnel, assisted by 12 helicopters, 12 water-dropping aircraft, and volunteer crews. A coast guard boat also sprayed sea water, with two patrol boats and nine private boats on standby for possible sea evacuations. Ambulances were placed on standby but had not been required by late afternoon.Local authorities reported that homes were likely damaged, but assessing the extent of the damage was delayed. "Some houses could have been damaged, but we are awaiting confirmation," local mayor Dimitris Loukas said to state-owned ERT television.Police took 40 people out and ordered five areas to be evacuated. Parts of the Athens-Sounion coastal highway were closed in both directions. "We are asking residents to evacuate their homes immediately," said local councilor Apostolos Papadakis.advertisementThough the origin of the fire is yet to be confirmed, authorities have sent an arson investigation unit to the scene. The entire Athens region and some Aegean islands remain at Level 4 wildfire risk due to hot and dry conditions.A major fire on the island of Chios earlier this week took four days to bring under control. Greece has seen its share of catastrophic summer blazes the Mati fire in 2018 killed more than 100 people.- Ends
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Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie Johnson enjoy a yacht costume party during their Greece summer getaway [See Pic]
Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie Johnson. Image via: magicjohnson/ Instagram NBA legend Magic Johnson is once again living his best life. In his recent post on Instagram, it was revealed that he and his wife, Cookie Johnson, have been enjoying on the sparkling waters of Greece. The 65-year-old Hall of Famer, known for his post-retirement success as a businessman and team owner, recently shared a glimpse into his luxurious summer escape. While cruising through the Ionian Islands with his wife, Cookie, and a few close friends, Johnson and his wife appeared in a costume-themed yacht party that instantly grabbed attention online. Magic Johnson and his wife, Cookie Johnson, enjoy a yacht costume party during their summer getaway Magic Johnson took to Instagram to offer fans a peek into one of the more entertaining nights of his vacation. In his latest Instagram post, he shared a glimpse of a toga-themed costume party aboard a lavish yacht. 'We had a fun toga party on the yacht last night with our friends and the crew!' he captioned the post, tagging his wife, Cookie Johnson. The photo carousel featured three snapshots, starting with a portrait of the NBA icon and Cookie dressed as a Greek god and goddess. The couple stood out in their white and gold attire against the stunning sea backdrop. In the other pictures, Johnson's guests could be seen fully embracing the theme, donning togas and sandals, surrounded by crew members and laughter. For those unfamiliar, toga parties are inspired by Greco-Roman traditions, where attendees wear draped garments resembling ancient Roman clothing, often to celebrate in a spirited and theatrical fashion. The yacht party was just one highlight of Johnson's ongoing trip across Greece. He began his tour on the Ionian Islands, making stops in Corfu and Kefalonia. 'Cookie and I are enjoying our time in Greece with our friends Dave and Tonya, Tony and Vanessa, Frank and Nina Cooper, and Eula Smith. Take a look at the beautiful castle lit up at nighttime!' he shared in another Instagram post, showing both his admiration for Greek culture and the camaraderie of his travel circle. While Magic may have hung up his jersey long ago, his life has only grown more dynamic. From winning five NBA championships and earning three MVP awards with the Los Angeles Lakers to building a reported net worth of $1.5 billion. Also Read: "That's why I married your dad" — Cooper Flagg's mom Kelly Flagg makes hilarious admission about her marriage during candid chat with her son The Lakers legend and his wife share a beautiful relationship and are dubbed as one of the NBA's power couples. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Forest fire near Athens under control, but area on high alert
Representative AI image ATHENS: Greek firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control, but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Greece has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to fires in the summer fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. The fire around Athens broke on Thursday afternoon near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages popular with local and foreign tourists. Though it was under control on Friday, a volatile combination of high temperatures and strong winds meant that a high risk of other fires breaking out remained, especially in the Attica region around the Greek capital and some islands in the north Aegean Sea, authorities said. A spokesman for the fire service told AFP that over 100 firefighters with 37 vehicles and a helicopter were on standby near Palaia Fokaia and Thymari. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze. The blaze came on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios, Greece's fifth-largest island, which had destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days. Weather agencies forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), including in the capital Athens.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Greece Wildfire: Authorities to issue evacuation orders as temperatures cross 40°C; first heatwave of season recorded
A firefighting airplane sprays water on a hill in Thymari, south of Athen (Image Credit: AP/File) Greece to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a major tourist attraction after a wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday. The fire came as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in Greece's first heatwave of the summer. "Right now, strong land and air forces are fighting a huge battle against the flames, mainly among homes," fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said during a press briefing Thursday afternoon. 12 planes, 12 helicopters, a coast guard ship along with volunteers helped 130 firefighters fight the fire near Palaia Fokaia, south of Athens, AP reported. The fire, which reportedly broke out within a populated area, was fanned by strong winds that frequently changed direction, sending plumes of smoke fanning out across the sky. Television footage showed at least one home burning. Local mayor Dimitris Loukas said on Greece's state-run ERT television that several houses were believed to have been damaged by the blaze, but added that exact information on property destruction was not immediately available. The coast guard said two patrol boats and nine private vessels were on standby in the Palaia Fokaia area in case an evacuation by sea became necessary. Ambulances were also on standby but had not been required by Thursday afternoon, authorities said. "We're telling people to leave their homes," local town councilor Apostolos Papadakis said on Greece's state-run ERT television. Parts of the coastal road connecting Athens to Sounion were closed in both directions, with people urged to take alternate routes to leave the area. The fire department spokesman said that an arson investigation unit had been sent to the area. Whole of Athens and also several Aegean islands, are on a high alert for wildfire broke out because of the weather condition.
