Greece Battles Devastating Athens Wildfire Amid High Fire Alert

A major wildfire near Athens, Greece, has killed one person, torched homes, cars, and forests, and caused widespread damage. The blaze has eased thanks to weakening winds. Greece remains on high fire alert with temperatures expected to hit 40°C. Government relief measures were announced for affected residents.

Greece's most destructive wildfire of the year has been partially contained on the outskirts of Athens, aided by reduced winds. The inferno, which claimed one life and incinerated homes, cars, and swathes of forest, has been fiercely contested by hundreds of firefighters since Sunday.

A fire brigade official noted, "The situation has improved, but there are random blazes. Currently, we don't see any new fronts, only some rekindlings, but we remain on high alert." The government has promised compensation and relief to victims, with the National Observatory of Greece estimating that the fire has ravaged approximately 10,000 hectares of land.

The arrival of firefighting aircraft from France and Italy, under a European civil protection mechanism, and additional ground support from the Czech Republic has bolstered Greece's efforts. Despite the progress, the nation stays braced for further challenges as high winds and soaring temperatures up to 40°C are forecast until Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies.)