“Relief in Athens as Major Wildfire is Extinguished, but Concerns Linger”

“Relief in Athens as Major Wildfire is Extinguished, but Concerns Linger”

Officials announced on Wednesday that the massive wildfire that burned for nearly three days near Athens has finally been extinguished.

Firefighters remain vigilant, closely monitoring the area northeast of the Greek capital to prevent any re-ignition of smoldering hotspots in the charred fields, forests, and surrounding neighborhoods.

The blaze, which began on Sunday afternoon, may have been triggered by a broken electricity pylon, according to reports from the Kathimerini newspaper. Investigators have examined the site and gathered evidence, though many are still in disbelief over how rapidly the fire spread and how dangerously close it came to the city. “It was like an atomic bomb,” a local resident told the newspaper.

Social media has seen criticism of the fire service, with some complaining about a slow response in deploying water-bombing aircraft to tackle the blaze. However, Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias defended the response, stating that the first firefighting helicopter arrived on the