A long summer heatwave and urban expansion into the hillsides around Athens worsened conditions for a wildfire around the Greek capital this week, that killed a woman, torched buildings, devoured woodland and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

Wildfires have been a common feature of Greek summers for years, but climate change has brought hotter weather and less rain, heightening the risk.

Greece had its warmest winter on record this year and was on track for its hottest summer with scant rain in many areas, which dried out green areas and forests.

Greece's National Observatory said the fire had damaged around 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) of land. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.

The UN's Chief Heat Officer, Eleni Myrivili, speaking from Lesbos, Greece, said that urban spread in the greater Athens area over the past decades also meant that houses were standing in areas that used to be forests.

"We have created cities that might not be exactly in the right place and in the right type. And we keep dealing with the consequences," Myrivili said.

Myrivili said improved forest management could potentially reduce the fire risk for the hotter years ahead.

Greece is on high fire alert until Thursday (August 15), with temperatures forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) raising concern about possible flare ups. Winds are also expected to pick up on Thursday.

Heatwaves globally are becoming more severe and prolonged due to climate change, which is primarily caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas.

(Production: Ali Withers)

For more ABS-CBN News videos, click the link below:
   • ABS-CBN News  

For more Breaking News & Live Coverage videos, click the link below:
   • Breaking News & Live Coverage  

For more latest news and analysis from ABS-CBN News videos, click the link below:
   • The latest news and analysis from ABS...  

For more News Digital News Raw Cuts, click the link below:
   • News Digital Raw Cuts  

Subscribe to the ABS-CBN News channel! - http://bit.ly/TheABSCBNNews

Watch full episodes on iWantTFC for FREE here:
http://iwanttfc.com

Visit our website at http://news.abs-cbn.com
Facebook:   / abscbnnews  
Twitter:   / abscbnnews  
Instagram:   / abscbnnews  

#Athens
#LatestNews
#ABSCBNNews