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Thousands Flee Athens as Wildfire Approaches
15 February 2012
Fire fighters from across Europe are battling huge wildfires nearing the Greek capital, Athens. Firefighters from Italy, France and Cyprus are tackling forest fires that were burning unchecked across a 50km front.
Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to flee their homes as thick plumes of smoke hung over the Acropolis; ash fell on the streets of the capital and clouds of black smoke filling the skyline were so thick that they obscured the sun.
Dozens of homes are reported to have been burnt to the ground, although so far only two people have been admitted to hospital, one with burns and the other with a heart-related problem. The area under threat included the town of Marathon, which provides the main source of Athens' water supply. Fires also threatened the archaeological site of Rhamnus, home to two 2,500-year-old temples, while the Greek coastguard has vessels on standby to transport any residents trapped in coastal areas.