Athens, Greece - August 14, 2024

Thousands of residents have been displaced in the Greek capital Athens after their homes were ravaged by rapidly spreading flames in the country's worst wildfire of the year, prompting the government to set up relief centers to assist affected locals while working to expedite their return home.

The wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon near the historic town of Marathon, the birthplace of the famous race bearing the same name, located about 40 kilometers northeast of downtown Athens.

By Monday evening, the flames approached suburban areas of the capital, scorching some 100,000 acres of forest and farmland, according to initial estimates of the National Observatory of Athens. The blaze was brought under control by early Tuesday morning, however, there was one fatality and 18 casualties, according to reports.

The fire has caused devastation for residents like Giannis, a local man who has lived on the outskirts of Athens for over 12 years, but has now lost everything.

The blaze forced nearly a dozen communities and villages in suburban Athens to evacuate, displacing thousands who are now seeking refuge elsewhere. In response, the government has set up relief centers throughout the capital to provide essential supplies and accommodation to those affected by the fires.

However, Greek scientists have raised concerns about whether people impacted by these severe weather events will be able to return to their neighborhoods to rebuild their homes and resume their lives. Long-term climate forecasts indicate more prolonged periods of drought and intense heatwaves which will likely lead to wildfires, with many communities already experiencing the repercussions.

The term "climate refugee" has been lingering as people grapple with the sometimes devastating extreme weather conditions, compelling many to seek new places to call home. While the Greek government has planned to provide financial assistance for those affected by such events, scientists caution that without effective strategies in place to prevent these disasters, an increasing number of people will continue to be displaced.

Shotlist:
Athens, Greece - Aug 14, 2024:
1. Aerial shots of burned forest, house;
2. Various of local resident Giannis talking on phone, burned house, trees;
3. SOUNDBITE (Greek, dubbed with English) Giannis, resident (full name not given)(starting with shot 2, partially overlaid with shot 4):
"It all happened around 15:00 and 17:00 on Monday; it did not burn overnight. This whole neighborhood was burned between those times. It happened really quickly. Now I'll have to find something to rent, but I don't know where; I'm not sure if I can live in Athens anymore.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Various of broken windows, burned items;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
5. Various of Sofia Zacharaki, Greek Minister for Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, checking supplies in relief center;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sofia Zacharaki, Greek Minister for Social Cohesion and Family Affairs (starting with shot 5):
"We have been welcoming people that lost their homes or have been taken out of hospices in order to provide a safe shelter for some hours. Then, we immediately sent them out to hotels that have been funded and subsidized by the state. They will stay there for about two or three days, hopefully going back to their houses that are now accessible again.";
7. Aerial shots of burned forest, houses;
8. Aerial shots of National Observatory of Athens, radome;
9. SOUNDBITE (Greek, dubbed with English) Theodore Giannaros, senior researcher, National Observatory of Athens (starting with shot 8):
"What we have unfortunately witnessed in Greece in recent years is the occurrence of repeated large forest fires -- in 2018 in Mati, in 2021 in Attica, similarly in 2023, and now this major fire in Eastern Attica. The frequency of such events is increasing and occurring in the same geographic areas, so these regions will gradually become difficult to inhabit.";
10. Various of residents looking at burning houses;
11. Aerial shots of burned area.

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