Gale-Force Winds Whip Up Greek Wildfire to Threaten Athens

After a warm winter and record periods without rain, Greece has been hit by wildfires that appear to be out of control and heading toward Athens.

Two men and a dog on a motorbike flee a wildfire burning near the village of Varnavas, north of Athens, Greece, August 14, 2017. Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has cut short his vacation and returned to Athens as a wildfire driven by gale-force winds heads toward the Greek capital of Athens.

Eleven towns and villages north of Athens have been evacuated as the flames have consumed thousands of trees and dozens of houses and cars.