Wildfire erupts in Mt. Pendeli in Athens

ATHENS

A fire erupted Tuesday on Mt. Penteli in Greek capital Athens, according to the fire department.

The blaze, fanned by strong winds, moved quickly from burning low vegetation to wooded areas.

“It is a difficult situation,” Giannis Artopios, a representative with the fire department, told state broadcaster ERT.

Residents of Drafi, a settlement in the mountainous region, have been ordered to evacuate and head to Pallini, while the areas of Pendeli, Nea Penteli, Daou and Dioni were warned to be on standby for further instructions by authorities.

Around 78 firefighters with 22 fire engines, five ground teams, alongside 28 Romanian firefighters with three water tanks are assisted by 11 water bombers and five helicopters that are currently battling the blaze.