Greece: Emergency crews responding to wildfire near Xylokastro in Corinthia as of Sept. 30

Emergency crews are responding to a wildfire burning near Xylokastro in Corinthia as of Sept. 30. The fire broke out west of Xylokastro Sept. 29 and spread rapidly amid warm and windy conditions. Around 350 firefighters and several aircraft have been deployed to tackle the blaze. Authorities have reported the fire has largely been brought under control as of Sept. 30; however, scattered hotspots continue to flare up. Several villages in the vicinity of the fire were evacuated Sept. 29, including Korfiotissa, Ano Loutra, Kallithea, and Medturgianika, and additional evacuation orders have been issued for Pyrgos Sept. 30. Officials have reported two fatalities after local residents were surrounded by the fire near the village of Elliniko.

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 need for 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.