Greece to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a major tourist attraction after a wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday. The fire came as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in Greece’s first heatwave of the summer. “Right now, strong land and air forces are fighting a huge battle against the flames, mainly among homes,” fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said during a press briefing Thursday afternoon.12 planes, 12 helicopters, a coast guard ship along with volunteers helped 130 firefighters fight the fire near Palaia Fokaia, south of Athens, AP reported. The fire, which reportedly broke out within a populated area, was fanned by strong winds that frequently changed direction, sending plumes of smoke fanning out across the sky. Television footage showed at least one home burning. Local mayor Dimitris Loukas said on Greece’s state-run ERT television that several houses were believed to have been damaged by the blaze, but added that exact information on property destruction was not immediately available. The coast guard said two patrol boats and nine private vessels were on standby in the Palaia Fokaia area in case an evacuation by sea became necessary. Ambulances were also on standby but had not been required by Thursday afternoon, authorities said. “We’re telling people to leave their homes,” local town councilor Apostolos Papadakis said on Greece’s state-run ERT television. Parts of the coastal road connecting Athens to Sounion were closed in both directions, with people urged to take alternate routes to leave the area. The fire department spokesman said that an arson investigation unit had been sent to the area. Whole of Athens and also several Aegean islands, are on a high alert for wildfire broke out because of the weather condition.
