The Monastery of the Mother of Panagia Gorgoepikoos, located in the outskirts of Athens, has been evacuated due to the ongoing forest fires in the country. Forests have been ablaze for several days, and emergency situations have been declared in some regions.

The Panagia Gorgoepikoos Monastery, situated in Mandra, not far from the Greek capital, stands on a mountaintop, surrounded by forest engulfed in flames. On July 19, rescuers evacuated all residents of nearby villages due to the hazardous situation. Initially, they faced resistance from the nuns at the monastery, but eventually, everyone was safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported, according to ekklisiaonline.gr.

As reported by Euronews, the wildfires near Athens began over the weekend. Strong winds and scorching temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) are hampering firefighting efforts, allowing the flames to spread. Evacuations of residents are underway along the highway that connects Athens with Corinth, and a state of emergency has been declared in several municipalities on the island of Rhodes.

After a relatively rainy and cool spring, these are the first major wildfires in Greece this year. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has attributed the fires to the ongoing climate crisis.

"The conditions are challenging, especially due to the strong winds," said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to journalists in Brussels during the EU-Latin America summit. He emphasized that the state apparatus is doing everything possible to contain the fires. "I would like to appeal to our citizens to follow the instructions of civil defense," he added. According to him, the primary priority in combating the fires is the protection of human lives, followed by the protection of property and the environment. "The fires are also a consequence of the climate crisis, which is being felt increasingly and intensely," he further stated.