The Greek Ministry of Civil Protection has declared a general state of alarm due to the numerous fires at the national level and the prevailing weather conditions , such as high temperatures and strong winds. All fire services are on high alert, reports in "Kathimerini", quoted by BTA.
As of this afternoon, a forest fire is raging in the area of Agios Vlasis near Sofiko in the Corinthia region of the Peloponnese peninsula, approaching Epidaurus.
The fire, which burns in a dense pine forest, is particularly difficult to control, the publication notes.
Authorities have issued an emergency warning, urging residents of Sofico to remain vigilant.
Three firefighters suffered minor burns and were hospitalized at a hospital in Corinth.
The police closed the road leading to Epidaurus from the village of Loutra Elenis.
A total of 120 firefighters with 32 fire trucks (including a team from Moldova) are working to contain the flames. 13 fire-fighting aircraft and six helicopters were also involved in the extinguishing.
According to a message from the fire service, the fire has covered a wooded area and agricultural lands, but so far it does not threaten houses, notes ANA-MPA.
At the same time, another fire led to the closure for several hours of the Evzoni-Boroditsa border point on the border between Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia.
The fire covered grassy vegetation and agricultural areas. A total of 39 firefighters with 12 fire trucks and one water-spraying helicopter were sent to the scene, the agency said.
To facilitate the movement of firefighting forces to the scene of the fire, the Athens-Thessaloniki-Evzoni highway was closed from the bridge at Polikastro to the Evzoni border crossing, and traffic to the northwestern border was redirected through Polikastro.
Later, traffic through the border crossing was restored.
For today, a very high fire risk (fourth degree) has been declared for six regions in Greece: Attica, Peloponnese, Central Greece, Western Greece, North Aegean and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. There is also a preventive ban on the movement of vehicles and people in national parks, forests and areas with a high risk of fires.
According to the forecast of the meteorologists, today and tomorrow will be the hottest days within the heat wave that covered Greece this week, with the highest temperatures - up to 43 degrees, expected in the western, central and northern areas of the mainland of the country.