Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Monday that strong winds in north-east of Athens continued to fuel blazes along a nearly 30-kilometre-long fire front.
Kikilias said that although the first firefighting aircraft was deployed within minutes of the initial outbreak on Sunday, the flames quickly turned uncontrollable due to the winds.
The Civil Protection Ministry said that nearly 700 firefighters with around 200 fire trucks are currently deployed, along with hundreds of volunteers and dozens of aircraft.
People with respiratory problems have been taken to hospitals due to the dense smoke. Many properties and settlements have been evacuated.
Kikilias added that hot and dry conditions have contributed to the fire risk this season.
He said that the mountainous and wooded terrain was also making it more difficult to tackle the current fires.
Winds with gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour are expected to continue throughout most of Monday, before subsiding in the evening. (dpa/NAN)
