Greece: Emergency crews responding to reignited wildfire in Vatera Municipality on Lesbos July 27

Event

Emergency crews are responding to a wildfire that has reignited in Vatera municipality on the island of Lesbos July 27. The fire has been burning on and off since July 23 and has consumed hundreds of hectares of forest land. Authorities had largely controlled the fire in recent days before it reignited July 27 amid dry and windy conditions. Residents of Vrisa have been ordered to evacuate July 27, having only recently been allowed to return home after previously being evacuated July 23. Hot and windy conditions are expected to prevail in the region over the coming days, and further wildfire growth is likely.

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.