Due to extensive wildfires near Athens, several cities and villages are facing evacuation as flames threaten to devastate communities surrounding the Greek capital. Authorities ordered the evacuation of hospitals, a monastery, and more than a dozen areas on Monday as the fire drew closer.

The fire, which hundreds of firefighters are battling, is just the latest in a summer characterized by record-high temperatures in Greece. Flames are erupting on two separate fronts, including areas that are particularly difficult to access in the mountains northeast of Athens. According to Vassilis Kikilias, Greece’s Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, conditions have worsened due to strong winds.

“Despite a fierce battle and superhuman efforts overnight, the fire spread very quickly and has reached Mount Penteli,” a fire service representative told Reuters. Kikilias described the blaze as “exceptionally dangerous,” noting that crews have been fighting it for over 20 hours under dramatic conditions.

The evacuation included a children’s hospital, a military hospital, two monasteries, and a children’s home. Evacuation orders have been issued for more than a dozen areas and multiple suburbs of Athens. Three hospitals in Athens are on alert to treat any potential injuries. Police assisted with the evacuations, and some residents spent the night in emergency shelters.

Local media reported that two firefighters were slightly injured, and several civilians received treatment for smoke inhalation. A total of 670 firefighters are involved in combating the flames, assisted by 27 specialized units and over 80 military personnel. More than 180 vehicles, as well as over 30 water-dropping planes and helicopters, have also been deployed.

With flames reaching heights of 25 meters, the fire spread “like lightning” due to stormy weather. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hurried back to Athens from Crete to lead the firefighting efforts, according to a government source. Authorities are actively working to prevent a tragedy similar to that of 2018, when a fire claimed the lives of 104 people in the coastal town of Mati near the capital.

Scientists point to increasingly warm and dry weather conditions linked to climate change, which have made wildfires more frequent and intense across Europe. June and July of this year have been the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, which also experienced its warmest winter on record. Kikilias warned over the weekend that “half of Greece will be in the red,” with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).