Greece is currently facing a severe wildfire crisis, with smoke affecting parts of Athens and extreme weather alerts in place for the week.

The wildfires began on Wednesday, with one particularly threatening the village of Varnavas, located about 35 kilometers north of Athens.

This year's unusually dry winter has made Greece particularly susceptible to wildfires, with June and July recording the hottest temperatures since 1960.

Emergency services have been actively evacuating hundreds of residents, with fire trucks and police assisting in the process.

Residents in affected areas received evacuation alerts via SMS from civil protection authorities, urging them to leave their homes.

Around 500 firefighters, supported by 19 firefighting planes and several helicopters, are battling the blazes, with flames reaching heights of over 25 meters.

As of Sunday afternoon, firefighters have managed to control 33 out of 40 fires that erupted within the last 24 hours, although seven remain uncontrolled.

The situation is dire, with strong winds exacerbating the fires and creating new fronts, prompting continued firefighting efforts into the night.

Several individuals have suffered from smoke inhalation and have been hospitalized, although there have been no immediate reports of damage to homes.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Greek government has declared a state of emergency in four municipalities affected by the fires.

Meteorologists have warned that the risk of fire remains extremely high due to a lack of rain in recent months, further complicating firefighting efforts.