Expert: Gale-Force Winds Key to Attica Fire's Rapid Spread

07:15 14/8/2024 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Professor Efthymis Lekkas, a Disaster Management expert from EKPA, has pointed to intense winds as the primary factor behind the Attica fire's rapid spread.

Gale-force winds that reached up to on the Beaufort scale, propelled the flames and accelerated their movement across the region, transforming

a forest fire into an urban inferno, according to the expert.

Professor Lekkas said that the fire, sparked in the region of Varnavas., was fueled by strong updrafts caused by the local terrain, pushing the fire up the mountain. As it descended towards Penteli, similar updrafts further increased its intensity.

Professor Lekkas acknowledged other contributing factors like prolonged drought, dense forests, and complex terrain. Still, he stressed that the fierce winds were the crucial element that escalated the fire into an urban disaster.

Once the fire entered urban areas, it found new fuel sources in industrial facilities and flammable materials, further intensifying the blaze. The extreme heat generated its own microclimate within urban blocks, creating strong winds and whirlwinds that carried burning debris over large distances.

In light of these challenges, Professor Lekkas emphasized the urgent need for updated fire protection strategies, especially in Attica's remaining forested areas.
He warned that without immediate action, the region could face even more destructive fires in the future.

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