Firefighters battle blaze near Athens for second day

August 09, 2025 / 6:16 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Hundreds of firefighters continued battling a deadly wildfire near Athens for a second consecutive day on Saturday, as strong winds raised fears of further spread. Over 260 firefighters, supported by nearly 80 fire engines and 12 aircraft, were deployed to the rural area of Keratea, about 43 kilometers southeast of Athens. According to a fire department spokesperson, the fire had weakened but still had "active pockets."

A new fire broke out near the town of Kouvaras but was quickly brought under control. However, the main blaze in Keratea, which started Friday, has already devastated nearly 10,000 acres of brush and forest, according to Lavrio mayor Dimitris Loukas. "Many homes were destroyed, in addition to other properties, agricultural and forest land," he told the state news agency ANA.

Evacuations, fatalities, and weather warnings

Dozens of residents and elderly care home occupants were evacuated late Friday as the fire approached the coastal resort town of Palaia Fokaia. Firefighters later found the body of an elderly man in a hut near Keratea; he reportedly died in his bed.

Tragedy also struck on the island of Milos, where gale-force winds caused the deaths of two Vietnamese tourists at Sarakiniko beach. The 61-year-old woman fell into the sea, and a 65-year-old man drowned trying to save her, according to the coastguard.

The National Observatory in Athens reported that strong winds will continue through at least Monday. On Friday, the extreme weather disrupted ferry travel for tens of thousands of tourists, although a sailing ban at Athens ports was lifted on Saturday.