The struggle for control of the great fire that reached the northern outskirts of Athens continues.
Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. There are elderly people who refuse to evacuate, and the police have to take them out by force. The fire is spreading rapidly from the forests to the settlements, and thick clouds of smoke can be seen from all over Athens.
As a result of the fire, the high-voltage power line was cut off, which led to a power outage in some parts of Attica. For several days now, meteorologists have been warning about the danger of fires, as the temperature in the country is above 40 degrees.
“At the scene of the fire, the temperature reached 45 degrees with a humidity of less than 10%. These extreme conditions are due to the intense heat that has gripped the country since last week. Gusts of wind reach 6 points on the Beaufort scale. All this has led to numerous air currents, which carry a large heat load, which blows into densely planted with trees. Thus, the forest fire has created its own microclimate, “said Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister of Civil Defense.
Due to the smoke breathing in this area is difficult. A state of emergency has been declared in the affected areas.
Source: nova.bg.