Greece wildfire spreads

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In Greece, officials are evacuating residents from areas around Athens as a fast-moving wildfire, driven by strong winds, threatens homes and important facilities.

Over 670 firefighters are battling the blaze, which has spread rapidly, creating a 12-mile front near the capital. Despite their efforts, the fire reached the northern suburbs, including the national observatory on Penteli Hill.

Authorities discovered the body of a woman in the suburb of Vrillisia, marking the first casualty since the fire began. The wildfire, intensified by prolonged drought and high winds, has forced evacuations in at least 25 areas, including the historic town of Marathon. Greece, facing one of its hottest and driest years, has called for help from other European Union countries to combat the fire.

The situation remains critical as winds continue to fuel the blaze, with meteorologists predicting more challenging days ahead. The Greek prime minister has returned to Athens to oversee the response, as the nation recalls the deadly fires of six years ago.

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SMART Prep | Quick Question 210631

At a local reserve near Rotorua, a group of Year 8 students helped with a native planting project. Before the project began, the area was dry and muddy, with only a few struggling grasses left beside the stream. Over several weekends, volunteers planted more than 300 young kānuka, mānuka, and carex plants. They also laid mulch to hold moisture in the soil and placed protective guards around each plant so rabbits would not eat the leaves.

After three months, the students noticed that insects had started returning to the reserve. Small birds were feeding in the new shrubs, and the stream edge looked less bare. The group recorded the growth of the plants and compared it with earlier photos. Their teacher said the project showed how careful work can slowly improve a damaged place.

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