A Greek wildfire fueled by gale-force winds raged in the mountainous region of Penteli near Athens on Tuesday, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of at least four areas and a hospital.

A wildfire raged out of control on the outskirts of Athens, damaging houses and cars, the Fire Department said.

Thousands of people join union protests in several cities across Greece to denounce the soaring cost of living.

Greek police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters who threw flares and other objects during a protest in central Athens on Sunday (August 29) against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

Fires blazed uncontrolled for a fifth day in Greece on Saturday, ravaging swathes of land on its second-biggest island of Evia.

With swathes of neighboring Turkey also aflame, the smoke-filled skies have added to apocalyptic images of floods and fire seen across Europe this summer.

Greek authorities told people in Athens to stay indoors on Wednesday as a wildfire raging uncontrolled north of the city covered the sky in a thick cloud of smoke.