Residents flee as strong winds fuel spread of Greece wildfires

Residents of the Athens suburbs of Kareas and Koropi on Mount Hymettus were sent fleeing as forest fires broke out around the Greek capital, Euronews reported.

Police confirmed 34 blazes were raging across four main fronts in southern Greece, fueled by strong winds and high temperatures.

The cause of the fires is uncertain. “It started over there. Then before we could even go outside to check it out it began on the other side as well,” said one resident of Kareas. “So, two or three places probably set on fire simultaneously.”

Another local woman added “We went home just to grab our most valuable documents, left them with someone and came back here to the mountains to help.”