Greece: Emergency crews responding to wildfire in Glyfada area as of late June 4

Event

Emergency crews are responding to a wildfire burning in the foothills of Mount Hymettus, south of Athens, as of late June 4. The fire reportedly ignited near Glyfada at around 13:00 and has damaged houses and cars in the area. Authorities have evacuated parts of the Glyfada and Voula areas as a precaution and have diverted vehicular traffic away from the vicinity of the blaze. Officials did not immediately report any casualties in connection with the fire.

Authorities will likely keep affected areas cordoned off to vehicular and pedestrian traffic as crews work to extinguish the blaze; the status of nearby roads will probably change over the coming hours. The fire and the emergency response may cause localized business disruptions. Authorities could evacuate additional communities due to fire activity and the needs of response operations. Low visibility from smoke and ashfall could also contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region and may disrupt operations at nearby airfields.

Advice

Avoid affected areas. Heed all evacuation orders. Seek updated information on road conditions if driving near affected areas; road closures and detours will probably cause traffic congestion and delays. Individuals not under evacuation warnings should consider remaining inside well-ventilated, air-conditioned spaces to reduce exposure to smoke. Charge battery-powered devices in case of prolonged power outages.