A forest fire on Tuesday has halted traffic on the highway that connects Athens with the north and south of Greece, officials said.
The Civil Protection Agency has issued a warning to the population to be vigilant as the fire spreads 30 kilometers north of the capital.
The fire service said five helicopters, four planes, 35 fire trucks and 104 firefighters were involved in fighting flames in the area where the former Greek royal family’s summer palace is located.
Greek Prime Minister Kiriak Micotakis said on Monday that Greece is currently experiencing the worst heat wave in three decades. “We are experiencing the worst heat wave since 1987,” Micotakis said, adding that the authorities were doing their best to deal with the situation.
In Greece, the heat is forecast to reach 45 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Nick Hardal said 1,584 forest fires were registered in Greece in July, compared to 953 in 2019. “We are no longer talking about climate change, we are talking about climate threats,” he said.
Latvian choirs, who recently visited Greece, say that for security reasons, archeological monuments, including the Acropolis in Athens, are being closed during the day from 12 noon to 5 pm, and firefighters are on duty there.
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