Land burnt equivalent to 2.5% of Attica area

Initial estimates reportedly show that 10,278 hectares burned, which corresponds to 2.5% of the area of ​​Attica. Areas were burnt in six main municipalities: Marathonas (5,178.6 hectares), Dionysos (2,981.6), Penteli (1,170.3), Oropos (851.7) and Rafina-Pikermi (95.8), while small areas were burned in the municipalities of Halandri, Vrilissia and Pallini.

Around 50 homes and a number of businesses have been completely destroyed, while several dozen buildings have been damaged.

There are quite a few problems with infrastructure, such as the electricity and water networks, which are expected to be restored within the next 24 hours. The number of vehicles reduced to ashes is reportedly significant.

The municipalities impacted have stated they are no longer accepting residents at the locations where they had set up help stations.

However, in cooperation with the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, a special platform has been activated for temporary housing people impacted by the fire, as declared by the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

Sixty-four of the 174 applications that were received have been accommodated in 39 hotels in Attica during the last two days. The municipal gym in Nea Penteli was completely destroyed. It was used by the local middle and high schools and also citizens in the afternoons.

Two-fifths of Attica’s forests have burned since 2017

Almost two-fifths of Attica’s forests have burned down in the last eight years, an analysis conducted by the National Observatory of Athens’ meteorological service has found.

Since 2017, a total of 45,000 hectares of woodland has gone up in flames in 13 large fires in Attica, amounting to 37% of the forested areas in the region.

Some 25,370 hectares of forest were lost in 2021 and 21,560 hectares in 2023.

This week’s fire destroyed 9,600 hectares of forest.

Kathimerini