Powerful fire in Attica, Agios Stylianos evacuated as 172 firefighters battle the flames

A new fire broke out on Monday morning southeast of Athens, fueled by strong winds that are helping the flames spread.

The flames broke out in the Kouvaras area, around 60 kilometers from the Greek capital, in the Attica region. The Fire Service said that at least 172 firefighters and around 40 vehicles are at the scene. Ground forces are being supported by two firefighting aircraft and four helicopters.

Efforts to battle the fire are taking place under difficult conditions, as wind speeds exceed 70 kilometers per hour. Due to the risk of the flames spreading toward residential areas, civil protection authorities ordered residents to leave the village of Agios Stylianos, near the fire. This is the second major fire recorded near Athens this summer.

Ten days ago, another fire in the northwest of the Greek capital engulfed more than 11,000 hectares of pine forest and agricultural land. Winds reaching up to 130 kilometers per hour meant that firefighters needed five days to bring the situation under control. During the operation, two crew members of a helicopter lost their lives after it collided with another aircraft.

Greece remains on extreme alert, while several regions have been declared at very high risk of fire. According to experts, fires in Attica are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity.

Between 2017 and 2026, a total of 15 major fires destroyed 42 percent of the region’s total forest area. Scientists link the rising number of fires in Greece and the Mediterranean region to climate change.