Athens: Wildfires have burned around 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) across Greece's Attica region over the past nine years, according to data from the National Observatory of Athens, local media reported Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the latest fire in western Attica has scorched an estimated 14,000 hectares (nearly 34,600 acres), though further analysis is needed to determine the final extent of the damage, Greek public broadcaster ERT reported. Haris Kontoes, research director of the observatory's BEYOND unit, said satellite monitoring systems, which provide updates every five minutes, had detected repeated flare-ups and the emergence of new fire fronts.

The blaze has expanded into areas previously affected by major wildfires, including land burned in 2009 and 2021. Maps produced by the unit showed that much of the current burn scar overlaps with the footprint of the 2009 fire, Kontoes noted. After moving eastward through the Porto Germeno area, the blaze encountered land burned in 2021, where less combustible vegetation remained.

Kontoes explained that in the areas burned in 2021, there was less fuel for the fire to spread, forcing the blaze to search for remaining living forest. He warned that the large number of homes built within or near forested areas significantly increases the danger to residents, emphasizing that the coastal settlements are built in the forests, illustrating a broader regional issue.

Kontoes stressed that the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires amid the climate crisis necessitated changes in urban planning and household protection. He pointed out that older buildings without adequate fire protection, uncleared plots, and narrow roads that hinder access for firefighting vehicles remain persistent risks. Kontoes concluded by stating that society has entered a new era, the era of the climate crisis, which is not being addressed adequately.