Greece fighting dozens of wildfires that sparked overnight causing major disruption for residents and holidaymakers. A large wildfire broke out southeast of Athens on Sunday afternoon, amid warnings that the worst of the summer heat is yet to come.
A wildfire ignited Saturday afternoon in the area of Mount Parnitha, known as “the lungs of Athens”, was controlled Saturday evening with the help of reinforcements from the regions of Thessaly, Epirus, and Central Macedonia, as well as volunteer firefighters.
The Greeks are bracing themselves for another summer of heat and wildfires. Facing another summer of battles with wildfires. The wildfire season has started after its warmest winter and earliest heatwave on record, with temperatures hitting 44°C (111°F).
The fire started in the Plaka area of Keratea district Sunday morning and was burning close to houses, while strong winds were blowing in the area.
More than forty wildfires erupted across Saturday in Greece with wind speeds exceeding 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour, according to fire brigade sources.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on Greeks to brace for a difficult wildfire season in his weekly Facebook post on Sunday.
Wildfire emergency alert system
Shortly after 12.30 PM, the emergency alert system 112 was activated, urging residents to evacuate the areas of Markati, Plaka and Panorama.
On Saturday another wildfire had erupted in the same area sparking evacuation orders but was successfully controlled.
A large wildfire that broke out on Serifos island on Saturday afternoon had been brought under control by firefighters early Sunday.