At least four homes have burnt down and 20 have had their exteriors damaged in a wildfire that raged out of control on the outskirts of Athens on Saturday.
Spreading quickly across the slopes of Mount Hymettus, the blaze sent thick smoke covering the southern suburbs.
“Due to the intense north winds the fire quickly spread and approached the city,” Fire Department spokesperson Yiannis Artopios said in a briefing.
“We ask our fellow citizens to be very careful.”
Water-bombing aircrafts were continuing their work in the morning hours of Sunday, but the blaze was largely under control.
More than 280 firefighters aided by firefighting aircrafts and helicopters were mobilised dropping tonnes of water as ground teams assisted by municipal water tanks to battle the wildfire.
Residents of Ano Voula and neighbouring areas were told to evacuate their homes on Saturday, as a precautionary measure given the fire was burning its way into their vicinity.
Police officers also went door-to-door advising people to evacuate the area around Alsos Square, following instructions from the civil protection agency’s emergency text message.
