The wildfire in Athens that has been raging out of control since Sunday has reached the suburban town of Vrilissia in the northern district of the Attica region, while reports suggest the blaze is rapidly moving toward the suburb of Chalandri in northern Athens located between the areas of Marousi, Agia Paraskevi and Cholargos, just 12 kilometers from the center of the Greek capital.
As a precautionary measure, Greek authorities have evacuated the Amalia Fleming General Hospital as the situation on the Penteli front is becoming increasingly difficult for firefighters.
Earlier in the morning, an evacuation of the Penteli Children’s Hospital and the 414 Military Hospital was carried out. The patients will be transferred to other hospitals.
Meanwhile, a short while ago, an evacuation order was issued to the residents of Ano Vrilissia via the 112 warning text message, instructing them to move to central Vrilissia and Chalandri.
Houses have been engulfed in flames in both New and Old Penteli, while the situation remains dangerous to the north of the firefront, with the fire entering the village of Soufani between Grammatiko and Marathon.
The wildfire in Athens stretches from Varnavas to Penteli and is heading towards Patima Chalandri, with continuous flare-ups creating new fronts. The intensity of the winds remains undiminished and the state apparatus seems unable to control the ongoing fire outbreaks.
Police informed motorists of traffic diversions in the areas affected by the Athens wildfires including Marathonas Avenue at several junctures, including among others: Kapandriti avenue toward Varnava, Agios Stefanos juncture, Dionysus and Dimokratias Avenues, Vassileos Georgiou B’ and Ippokratous, and Pentalis Avenue and Anapafseos, Miaouli and Kolokotroni, Souliou and Dimokratias, Souliou and Marathonos Avenue, Marathonos Avenue and Dimokratias, Marathonos Avenue and Fleming, Marathonos Avenue and Attiki Odos, Marathonos Avenue, and Stavros.
