Greek authorities on Friday ordered the partial evacuation of a suburb west of Athens after a forest fire broke out on a nearby mountain. An emergency alert was issued as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.
The evacuation order came as wildfire danger shifted from France to Greece, with evacuation orders still in place in parts of France. The threat carried grim resonance for Greeks, who remember the 2018 wildfire at the seaside community of Mati, near Athens, which killed 104 people.
Officials said the fire was burning on a mountain near the suburb, but did not immediately report any injuries or damage to homes. Firefighting crews were working to prevent the flames from spreading toward residential areas.
The partial evacuation affected only part of the suburb, allowing some residents to stay. Authorities urged people in the area to follow instructions from emergency services.