Massive wildfire leads to evacuation of settlements, hospitals in northeastern Athens

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - A massive wildfire led to the evacuation of hospitals and many settlements in northeastern Athens, the local media reported on Monday morning.

The fire that broke out on Sunday afternoon in the Varnavas area quickly expanded, with the winds at the force of 7-8 on the Beaufort scale, creating a fire front of over 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), the state-run ERT news agency announced.

The fire, currently raging on three main fronts, already led to the evacuation of many settlements in the areas of Nea Panteli and Palaia Penteli, with evacuation orders issued for dozens of more settlements.

Also, Penteli Children's Hospital and the 414 Military Hospital, as well as at least two monasteries, were evacuated.

Efforts of 560 fighters, 16 teams of the Forest Directorate, supported by over 170 different type of vehicles, including fire engines, and earthmovers, have not been sufficient so far, and all hopes are pinned on the 29 aerial firefighting vehicles, according to the broadcaster.