ATHENS – As residents in areas about 25 miles northeast of the Greek capital fled flames that destroyed homes and cars, and firefighters fought blazes that encroached on Athens, another danger arose: smoke.

Thick black plumes rose rapidly into the area and soot and smoke soon reached Athens, making the air reek and raising toxicity to the point that health officials advised people to stay indoors – at the height of the tourism season.

Health authorities said the atmosphere wasn’t safe to breathe in places and was risky for those with respiratory problems, the elderly and others susceptible to such conditions and that it could linger for several days.

High winds that reached gale force levels propelled the smoke over the capital and it was said it could go as far as 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) from the source and easily envelope whole regions.

That was illustrated in a report by the National Observatory of Athens and documented by the European meteorological satellite Meteosat-11 which revealed just how extensive the dispersion was of dangerous particles in the air.

It was especially problematic in the so-called Athens Riviera seaside area of Glyfada, where private businesses and resorts occupy public beaches and other swimming areas packed during a heat wave.