Fire Department

The weather will remain unstable today in most parts of the country. Rain and thunderstorms, possibly temporarily strong in some areas, are expected in central, eastern Macedonia, and Thrace in the early morning hours. Improvement is anticipated across the country by evening.

Fire broke out today around 11.45am in a factory courtyard in Neoktista Aspropyrgos. As known by the fire brigade, the fire broke out in an outdoor area of a factory with chemicals and fertilizers on Agios Ioannis Stephanis Street in Neoktista Aspropyrgos, Attica.

Today’s meeting in Penteli, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will resemble a mini-Cabinet session. It will take place this afternoon and will include several ministers, deputy ministers, general secretaries, the Governor of Attica, and mayors from the affected areas.

Severe bad weather is expected to hit Corfu for the second time in a few hours, with a team of three men from the 5th EMAK arriving on the island in a hurry to reinforce the local fire service.

Citizens have been informed that the weather will worsen starting from the western, central, and northern regions with local showers and thunderstorms today, Monday (19-08-24), and tomorrow, Tuesday (20-08-24). These storms will be accompanied locally by frequent lightning and hailstorms.

The return of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Maximou , after the short vacation of the government team, signals the start of intense meetings in preparation for the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which is traditionally the political milestone of the year.

The fire brigade is concerned about the intensity of the winds, as it is operating for the second consecutive day on the fire fronts from Varnavas and Marathon, up to Penteli and Nea Makri. The winds may have weakened during the night, but by dawn, they will become gusty again, although with lower intensities than yesterday, according to EMF director Thodoris Kolydas.

In light of the major fire raging in northeastern Attica, ELAS issued a statement calling on citizens to avoid any movement to areas affected by fires and to follow, for their own safety, the instructions issued for evacuation of areas.

In detail, the relevant announcement:

Dramatic hours are unfolding in northeastern Attica as the fire that started in Varnava on Sunday afternoon is “rapidly advancing and has reached Mount Penteli,” as announced by the Fire Department spokesperson shortly before 6 AM today, “despite the superhuman efforts of all civil protection forces.”

An alarm was raised at the Fire Department Sunday afternoon for fire in the Neo Mazi area in Megara, while the fire in Varnava is also serious as it is very close to the settlement.