- Title: Heat and urban sprawl worsened fires in Athens outskirts says expert
- Date: 14th August 2024
- Summary: VRILISSIA, GREECE (AUGUST 12, 2024) (REUTERS) FIRE ON SIDE OF ROAD HOUSE, TREE AND MOTORCYCLE ON FIRE MOTORCYCLE BURNING VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS USING HOSES TO TACKLE FIRE LESBOS, GREECE (AUGUST 14, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL CHIEF HEAT OFFICER, ELENI MYRIVILI, SAYING: "This particular fire, first of all, it was large in its scope. It was r
- Embargoed: 28th August 2024 14:45
- Keywords: Athens WILDFIRES climate change fire greece heatwave
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GREECE
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Fires
- Reuters ID: LVA001676014082024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A long summer heatwave and urban expansion into the hillsides around Athens worsened conditions for a wildfire around the Greek capital this week, that killed a woman, torched buildings, devoured woodland and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.
Wildfires have been a common feature of Greek summers for years, but climate change has brought hotter weather and less rain, heightening the risk.
Greece had its warmest winter on record this year and was on track for its hottest summer with scant rain in many areas, which dried out green areas and forests.
Greece's National Observatory said the fire had damaged around 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) of land. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
The UN's Chief Heat Officer, Eleni Myrivili, speaking from Lesbos, Greece, said that urban spread in the greater Athens area over the past decades also meant that houses were standing in areas that used to be forests.
"We have created cities that might not be exactly in the right place and in the right type. And we keep dealing with the consequences," Myrivili said.
Myrivili said improved forest management could potentially reduce the fire risk for the hotter years ahead.
Greece is on high fire alert until Thursday (August 15), with temperatures forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) raising concern about possible flare ups. Winds are also expected to pick up on Thursday.
Heatwaves globally are becoming more severe and prolonged due to the climate change, which is primarily caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas.
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