(12 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northern Athens suburbs – 12 August 2024
1. Various of flames
2. Fire engine arriving and firefighters running towards blaze
3. Various of firefighters preparing hoses
4. Various of firefighters dousing flames and charred earth
5. Local resident looking on
6. Firefighter dousing flames
7. Smoke-filled air surrounding homes
8. Continuous shot of charred earth with firefighters advancing
9. Close of firefighter dousing area
10. Firefighters working near car
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of firefighters backed by more than 30 water-dropping planes were battling a major forest fire raging out of control on Monday on the northern fringes of the Greek capital.
Hospitals and residential suburbs were evacuated.
Fanned by strong winds, the blaze that began Sunday afternoon was racing through pine forests left tinder-dry by repeated heat waves this summer, coming on the heels of a particularly dry winter.
June and July of this year were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, which also recorded its warmest winter ever.
By mid-morning, the fire was burning mainly on two separate fronts, with some parts in particularly difficult to reach areas on a mountain northeast of Athens, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said.
Authorities were faced with “an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances,” Kikilias said.
Conditions were exacerbated by the very strong winds.
The fire department said 670 firefighters, backed by 27 teams specially trained to tackle wildfires and including more than 80 members of the armed forces, were battling the flames.
More than 180 vehicles were deployed, while more than 30 water-dropping planes and helicopters were providing aerial support.
A children’s hospital, a military hospital, two monasteries and a children’s home were evacuated early Monday, while evacuation orders were issued for more than a dozen areas, including Marathon and several Athens suburbs.
Three Athens hospitals were put on heightened alert to treat any potential injuries.
Local media reported two firefighters were slightly injured, while several civilians were treated in hospitals for smoke inhalation.
The fire sent a blanket of smoke over the center of the Greek capital, darkening the sky.
It began Sunday afternoon about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Athens and was fanned by strong winds that quickly drove it out of control.
Authorities said flames at times towered more than 25 meters (80 feet) in height.
Meteorologists and government officials have warned of the heightened danger of wildfires because of weather conditions from Sunday until Thursday, with half of the country placed under a “red alert” for wildfire hazard.
AP video shot by: Lefteris Pitarakis
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/af0df4f7ffb24741a653f5a7f23b94ab
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in August 17, 2024, 9:04 am.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
