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Hundreds of firefighters tackle wildfire near Greek capital Athens

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SKY NEWS

A wildfire is burning just outside of Athens with hundreds of firefighters trying to bring the blaze under control.

More than 400 firefighters, 110 fire engines and a large number of volunteers are fighting the blaze, which broke out around 3pm local time on Sunday about 22 miles from the Greek capital.

Fifteen firefighting planes and nine helicopters were also involved in the operation.

Fire colonel Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said the flames were moving fast towards Lake Marathon, an important reservoir supplying Athens.

An unknown number of houses have been damaged.

A tree burns as flames and smoke rise from a wildfire burning in the village of Varnavas, near Athens, Greece, August 11, 2024. REUTERS/Hilary Swift TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Image:Flames and smoke rise from a wildfire burning in the village of Varnavas. Pic: Reuters/Hilary Swift
Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning in the village of Varnavas, near Athens, Greece, August 11, 2024. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. GREECE OUT. NO EDITORIAL OR COMMERCIAL SALES IN GREECE.
Image:Pic: Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via Reuters

Mr Vathrakogiannis said winds reached gale force strength in the area of the fire and flames exceeded 80ft in height.

Residents of the villages near the area of the fire have been warned by emergency text messaging to evacuate.

On Sunday afternoon, messages were also sent to residents of some northern Athens suburbs to do the same.

Another fire that broke out to the west of Athens has been contained, the spokesman said.

Both meteorologists and government officials have warned of the heightened danger of wildfires because of weather conditions from Sunday until Thursday.

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