Athens, 12 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) — A major fire was raging north of Athens on Sunday, with clouds of smoke reaching the Greek capital 30 kilometres to the south, a fire brigade spokesman said on Greek radio.

"The flames are rising more than 25 metres high," the spokesman said.

Several villages and localities in the Varnavas and Marathon area were evacuated. Footage on Greek television showed hundreds of residents being brought to safety accompanied by fire engines and police.

Shortly before sunset, 15 firefighting planes and 11 helicopters were still in action, according to the fire brigade. "It will be a long night," an officer told reporters on site.

Several hundred firefighters and numerous volunteers were said to be involved.

Many people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital, Greek media reported.

It was initially unclear how many houses were destroyed or damaged. Television reporters reported seeing dozens of houses ablaze.

In some cases, there were disputes between residents and the police. Many people refused to leave their homes despite the approaching flames and tried to save their belongings with garden hoses.

Tourist facilities were not initially at risk, according to reports.

Meteorologists and the Civil Protection Ministry repeatedly warned over the weekend that due to the extreme dryness and strong winds around the Aegean, even the smallest fire could turn into a major blaze within minutes.

How this fire started remained initially unclear.

The ministry published a map showing that the highest level of fire risk is in the region around Athens and large parts of central Greece.

The situation will remain extremely dangerous in the coming days, the civil protection authorities said.

In most regions of Greece, there has been no significant rain for months.