Skip to main content
05 Jul 2022 | 12:37 PM UTC

Greece: Emergency crews responding to a wildfire in northwestern Attica Region as of July 5

Emergency crews responding to wildfire in Northwestern Attica, Greece, as of July 5; evacuations and road closures ongoing.

Warning

Event

Emergency crews are responding to a wildfire burning near Porto Germeno in northwestern Attica Region, around 47 km (29 miles) northwest of Athens, as of late July 5. The fire broke out July 5 amid high temperatures and strong winds in the region. More than 130 personnel are on-site battling the blaze. Authorities have urged residents to leave the settlement of Mytikas as a precaution and have closed several provincial roads in the area. Officials did not immediately report any casualties in connection with the fire. Windy conditions and difficulty accessing the fire due to steep terrain are hampering firefighting efforts and further fire growth is possible in the coming hours and days.

The General Secretariat of Civil Protection warned July 2 that the ongoing heatwave and strong winds would combine to greatly increase the fire risk across parts of Attica, Central Greece, the North Aegean, the Peloponnese, and Western Greece regions over the coming days. Authorities have reported that at least 52 fires broke out in a 24-hour period late July 3-late July 4. The public is being advised to remain vigilant and avoid outdoor activities that could ignite fires.

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.