New fire hits region near Athens

A new forest fire was declared on Friday (4) in an area on the outskirts of Athens, driven by strong winds, while the fire that has been burning for the third consecutive day in Crete “is receding”, firefighters reported.

The new fire was declared in the municipality of Koropi, 30 km east of Athens. Civil Protection asked residents to stay away from the area.

“The fire has reached the backyards of houses,” Koropi Mayor Dimitris Kiousis warned on public television ERT.

At least two seaplanes and two helicopters are fighting the flames fueled by strong winds blowing in Attica, the Athens region, and the Greek capital.

On Thursday afternoon, another fire 30 km east of Athens, near the port of Rafina, was finally brought under control in the evening after prompting the evacuation of around 300 people.

However, some houses and vehicles were damaged, according to Dimitris Markou, mayor of the municipality of Spata-Artemida, quoted by ERT.

Meanwhile, the fire that broke out on Wednesday night near the town of Ierapetra in southeastern Crete, and which led to the evacuation of 5,000 people, including several tourists, "is receding," the fire service told AFP.

“There are still fears of a resurgence, but there is no longer a main focus,” said fire service spokesman Vasilios Vathrakoyannis.

However, firefighters predicted on Thursday night that the coming days would be “difficult” in Greece due to an expected rise in temperatures combined with violent winds.

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