Greeks survey damage left by fires near Athens

Greek officials and residents in a region west of Athens are beginning to assess the damage caused by a devastating wildfire that swept through the area, officials announced on Wednesday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to chair a cabinet meeting later in the day to discuss compensation for those affected by the fire, according to his office.

Firefighters from the Environment and Civil Protection ministries are currently on the ground, evaluating communities approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Athens, where residents have returned following preventive evacuations, public broadcaster ERT reported.

The wildfire has scorched over 14,000 hectares of land in just five days, but authorities report that the situation in the region is improving. Vassilis Vathrakoyannis, a spokesperson for fire services, stated that firefighters remain on maximum alert to address any remaining areas of smoke. The blaze is believed to have started on Friday due to a spark on power cables managed by a private company in Agios Vasileios, a seaside village situated at the foot of a mountain 85 kilometers northwest of Athens.

Evidence from the fire service investigation suggests that the smell of smoke remains in the vicinity of Porto Germeno, a popular seaside resort where a significant portion of the previously forested land has been consumed by the flames, and numerous houses have been destroyed. Strong winds, gusting up to 130 kilometers per hour, fueled the fire's rapid spread towards the southern slopes of Mount Kithairon and eventually reached the industrial and agricultural town of Megara, located 40 kilometers from Athens.

Greek authorities have been battling multiple wildfires across the country since the end of July, with the recent incident being one of several that have claimed five lives, including three firefighters and two members of a helicopter crew battling the flames.