Greece: Wildfires leave at least five people dead near Athens July 23-24 /update 1

Event

Severe wildfires were reported to the west and northeast of Athens on Monday, July 23, and continue to burn as of the early hours (local time) of Tuesday, July 24. According to local sources, the fires broke out near Kineta (located 54 km [33 mi] west of Athens), near Penteli (15 km [9 mi] northeast of the capital), and near the town of Rafina. Reports indicate that at least five people were killed in the blazes.

Officials have declared a state of emergency in eastern and western Attica and local authorities have issued evacuation orders for nearby areas threatened by the fires. Authorities have accordingly closed the Athens-Corinth highway, and disruptions have been reported on all rail services in the Athens region. In addition, several flights were diverted away from Athens International Airport (ATH) due to smoke. Though authorities have deployed firefighters to combat the blazes, further spread of the fires is possible in the coming hours. Additional evacuations and transportation disruptions are possible in the abovementioned areas. 

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.