Several forest fires are raging near the Greek capital Athens.
1,200 children have been evacuated from a summer camp – and hundreds of firefighters are participating in the extinguishing work.
– It is a difficult fire, the winds are really strong, says rescue service spokesperson Yannis Artopios about one of the fires.
Hundreds of firefighters are currently working to extinguish several forest fires near Athens in southern Greece. The first fire started in Kouvaras, which is located a few miles south of the capital, during the morning.
– It is a difficult fire, the winds are really strong, says rescue service spokesman Yannis Artipios, according to the AFP news agency.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire, according to the emergency services.
Earlier in the day, Greek authorities called on a number of coastal towns to carry out evacuations as a precautionary measure.
Children are evacuated
At the same time, a forest fire is raging near the town of Loutraki, which is located west of Athens. The city’s mayor, Giorgos Gkionis, says that evacuations have been carried out.
– We have saved 1,200 children who were at summer camp, he says to Greek television.
Earlier in the day, the rescue service held a press conference regarding the forest fires. Hundreds of firefighters are working to extinguish the blazes and in the air both planes and helicopters have been called in to help bring the flames under control.
The Greek newspaper Take Nea reports that traffic in the capital has been heavily affected during the day due to closures introduced as a result of the fires.
Several houses and cars are said to have caught fire in various places on the coasts, according to the newspaper. No one is said to have been injured in connection with the fires.
Over 40 degrees hot
Greece, along with Spain and Italy, among others, has been affected by a heat wave in the past week. Temperatures in the country have reached 44 degrees. The Acropolis, one of the country’s top tourist attractions, was forced to close as a safety measure in the heat.
According to the country’s national weather service, the heat wave is expected to continue during the week.
– The expected weather conditions will be particularly difficult and favor forest fires, says Yannis Artipios.