Two violent fires ravaged a forest in the Attica region of northeastern Greece on Sunday evening, firefighters announced.
“Our firefighters and all civil protection forces are fighting fires throughout the country. In Attica alone, two major and extremely dangerous fires have broken out.“, fire brigade spokesman Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said at a televised press conference.
The wildfires, which broke out near the Greek capital Athens, have prompted the evacuation of residents from at least eight areas near the city.
According to firefighters, the fire is approaching the houses and three emergency alerts have been issued to residents of Amygdaleza, Galini and Rodopoli asking them to evacuate the area.
A resident of the Stamata region told Skai TV that two houses had already been destroyed by the flames.
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Authorities have mobilized 12 planes, eight helicopters and a large number of ground personnel to fight the fire.
Police have ordered several road diversions in the area due to the fire.
In addition, another fire that broke out on Sunday in the south-eastern area of Keratea is still ongoing.
Several villages have already been evacuated.
Around sixty firefighters and 17 vehicles, as well as eight planes and two helicopters, were deployed to try to bring the fire under control.
Authorities have set up an alert system, calling on residents of the Markati, Plaka and Panorama areas to evacuate.
On Saturday, a major fire in the same region was brought under control, as was the one that broke out the day before on the island of Serifos on Sunday morning, after causing significant damage.
On Saturday alone, more than forty fires broke out in Greece, with winds often exceeding 100 km/h, according to the fire service.
With MAP
