kineta

A state of emergency has been declared by the Fire Department after a tanker truck overturned on Friday morning on the Athens–Corinth National Highway near Kineta, causing a large fire and significant disruptions for drivers.

Due to the fire, the National Highway near Kineta had been closed in both directions, and traffic is being diverted to the old national road.

Eleven large-scale fires in the Attica Region from 2017 to the end of July 2023 have destroyed over 55,000 hectares (550,000 stremmas), the National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr said on Monday after data provided by the European Union's Copernicus mapping services and the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

As an investigation into last month's deadly wildfires on the outskirts of Attica deepens - with evidence pointing to shortcomings by rescue services and authorities but also the negligence of residents - Kathimerini has obtained video footage showing the moment the blaze broke out on the afternoon of July 23. 

Greek authorities urged residents of a coastal region west of Athens to abandon their homes as a massive wildfire raged uncontrolled on Monday, closing one of Greece's busiest motorways and sending plumes of smoke over the capital.

More than 35 firemen operating 15 fire trucks are trying to contain a blaze burning a pine forest near Kineta, a beach town west of Athens.

They are assisted by three water-dropping aircraft and two helicopters.

No residential areas are currently at risk.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but summer wildfires are common in Greece.