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New Blaze Near Athens Forces Evacuations Amid Greece Wildfire Surge

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Updated Jul 4, 2025, 06:07 PM

Greek firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire in Koropi, about 30 kilometres southeast of Athens, on Friday. Civil Protection sent two emergency text alerts ordering residents of Agios Dimitrios, Galazia Akti and Althea to leave as flames reached the yards of homes. Roughly 75 firefighters supported by 25 engines, four helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft worked under strong winds. By late afternoon officials said the main front had eased, but hot spots continued to threaten houses.

The Koropi blaze is the latest in a series of fires that have stretched resources since mid-week. On Crete, a fire that broke out on 2 July near Ierapetra forced the evacuation of five coastal communities, burned homes and hotels and led authorities to declare a local state of emergency. In eastern Attica, a separate wildfire near Rafina on 3 July prompted the evacuation of more than 1,200 people and damaged houses in Pikeremi and Spata before being brought under control on Thursday.

Fresh fronts also erupted on Friday at Neochori in Messinia, Ancient Olympia and Mesochoria on the island of Evia, where up to 54 firefighters and 18 aircraft were deployed. The Greek Fire Service said temperatures approaching 40 °C and gale-force winds keep much of the country on its second-highest wildfire alert level and warned that dormant embers could reignite. Civil Protection urged residents and tourists to remain vigilant as crews rotate between multiple active sites.

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