New Massive Wildfires Erupt in Greece

On Monday, two massive wildfires erupted in hard-hit Greece, triggering evacuation alerts for villages southeast and northwest of Athens, according to international reports.

Fanned by unpredictable and strong winds, the worst blazes are around the southeast and northwest of the capital city.

The worst of the two bushfires that erupted late Monday was in the Vilia area northwest of the Greek capital, which triggered an evacuation alert for eight villages.

Currently, hundreds of firefighters are trying to control the fires with eight water-bombing aircraft and nine helicopters.

Meanwhile, a number of the region's residents are fighting to save what they can from flames that have decimated vast tracts of pristine forest, according to the latest reports.

There is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas is driving more extreme weather events, according to Scientists.

On the other hand, local mayor Dimitris Loukas indicated that authorities were investigating reports of arson. Loukas revealed that residents had seen someone in a car setting a dumpster on fire.

In a statement, Greece’s minister for public order, Michalis Chrysochoidis, said: “Right now the situation there has improved, there are scattered active fires within the perimeter, and efforts are continuing to contain them."

It's worth mentioning that Greece, like many parts of Europe and the rest of the Mediterranean countries, has been grappling with extreme weather this summer.