Newest emergency update on the forest fires, carried out today July 20, 2023 at 6:05 p.m., by the Deputy Press Representative of the Fire Brigade, Deputy Fire Chief Ioannis Bakerfrom the National Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management in Maroussi.

Here is the text of the update:

“Good evening from the Fire Department Operations Center.

62 forest fires broke out in the last 24 hours. Most of them were treated immediately at their initial stage.

All Civil Protection forces, in cooperation with the Regions and Municipalities of the country, are making significant efforts to limit uncontrolled fires.

Conditions are now becoming extreme and creating dynamic fire fronts.

Strong firefighting forces, ground and air, are dealing with large flare-ups in Western Attica, Lefkoroma Laconia and Rhodes.

Today, at four twenty-five, a message was issued by 112 for the evacuation of the areas of Agia Sotira, Paleokoundoura, Panorama and Paleochori of Western Attica to Oinoi and at six twenty a new evacuation message was issued from Oinoi to Erythres. In the wider area, 11 aircraft and 11 helicopters operate from the air, including the four aircraft provided to us by the European Civil Protection Mechanism from Italy and France.

In Laconia, the recent flare-ups have created new fronts southeast of the Lefkoroma settlement, and strong ground forces and 4 aircraft and 1 helicopter are working to counter them.

In Rhodes, the flare-ups are multiple in the mountainous mass in the center of the island and 3 aircraft and 2 helicopters are operating.

As of noon, the 2 aircraft we expected from Israel are in our country.

According to the National Weather Service’s updated Emergency Weather Forecast, the temperature is rising starting today and from tomorrow Friday to Sunday the heat wave will be felt across the country.

Therefore, the risk of fire will be very high for tomorrow in Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Corinth, Argolis, Rhodes, Samos and Ikaria, while the risk of fire remains high almost throughout the country.

We emphasize that the coming days are expected to be even more difficult.

The attention of all of us is necessary.

For any development, a newer update will follow.

Thank you”.