Firefighters used helicopters to battle flames and smoke in Drosopigi village 25 km north of Athens on Saturday (July 26) as the country sweltered under soaring temperatures.

Helicopters were dropping water in the area where factories with flammable material are located, and 65 firefighters battled the flames, assisted with 26 vehicles and two aircraft.

Smoke billowed above a forested area and people gathered to watch the blaze.

Two houses were caught by fire, according to state ERT television, and residents of nearby village Krioneri were instructed by authorities to leave towards Athens.

Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the Greek weather service said.

Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

DROSOPIGI, ATTICA, GREECE (JULY 26, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. HELICOPTER FLYING THROUGH SMOKE AND DUMPING WATER ON WILDFIRE / SMOKE BILLOWING

2. HELICOPTER DROPPING WATER ON WILDFIRE / SMOKE BILLOWING

3. SMOKE BILLOWING IN DISTANCE AND CARS DRIVING PAST

4. HELICOPTER FLYING AND DISAPPEARING INTO CLOUD OF SMOKE / SMOKE IN DISTANCE

5. YELLOW HELICOPTER FLYING AND DROPPING WATER / TREES AND SMOKE

6. SMOKE, BUILDINGS AND TREES IN SMOKE

7. PEOPLE WATCHING SMOKE AND HELICOPTERS FROM THE ROAD

8. SMOKE IN DISTANCE, CARS DRIVING PAST ON HIGHWAY

9. RED HELICOPTER DUMPING WATER / TREES AND SMOKE

10. SMOKE BILLOWING BEHIND TREES

11. PEOPLE WATCHING SMOKE AND HELICOPTERS FROM THE ROAD