Greece: Wildfires continues to spread near Athens July 24 /update 2

Event

Two wildfires are continuing to spread near Athens as of Tuesday, July 24. According to government officials, at least 20 fatalities and over 100 injuries have been confirmed as of 03:00 (local time) on Tuesday. The fires started to spread quickly after winds reaching up to 80 km/h (50 mph) hit the area. Local residents said that the blaze east of Athens near Rafina has destroyed much of the village of Mati (located approximately 29 km [18 mi] from the capital). Authorities are also urging people to evacuate from Kineta (located 54 km [33 mi] west of Athens), where a second wildfire broke out.

Over 600 firefighters have been deployed to contain the blazes, along with water-dropping planes and helicopters. Significant traffic disruptions have been reported on the main highways around the wildfires due to residents evacuating from the area. Authorities also closed the highway between Rafina and the nearby town of Marathonas as a precaution. Flight disruptions at Athens International Airport (ATH) due to smoke were reported on Monday, July 23, but as of 05:00 on Tuesday, operations have returned to normal. Additional evacuations and transportation disruptions are possible in the abovementioned areas if the fires continue to spread. 

Advice

Individuals in affected areas are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas near the wildfires, adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and monitor the situation.