Major fire breaks out north of Athens; 500 firefighters deployed in the region

Athens [Greece], August 12: A major fire was raging north of Athens on Sunday, with clouds of smoke reaching the Greek capital, a fire brigade spokesman said on Greek radio.
"The flames are rising more than 25 metres high," he said, adding that 19 firefighting aeroplanes and around 500 firefighters are deployed in the region around the small village of Varnavas. The Civil Protection Ministry called on the residents of the affected region via SMS to leave their homes. The major fire is raging around 30 kilometres north of the capital. Some people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital, according to Greek media reports. Initially, tourist facilities were not at risk, the reports added.
Meteorologists and the Civil Protection Ministry repeatedly warned over the weekend that due to the extreme dryness and strong winds around the Aegean, even the smallest fire could turn into a major blaze within minutes. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune