A wildfire that broke out on Friday afternoon in the Keratea area of Eastern Attica, southeast of Athens, is now in decline after an intense overnight firefighting effort, though scattered hotspots remain active. The blaze has already claimed the life of a 76-year-old man, whose body was found burned inside a brick structure near the fire’s point of origin.
With the first light of Saturday, firefighting aircraft began water drops to bring the fire under control. The most challenging front remains in Anavyssos, where residents of the Agios Nikolaos and Mavro Lithari areas were ordered via emergency alert to evacuate toward Athens during the early hours. Another alert was later issued for residents in Charvalo to move toward Anavyssos.
More than 260 firefighters, including 10 ground teams and 79 vehicles, are battling the flames alongside numerous volunteers, water trucks, and heavy machinery. Operations are being coordinated on-site from the mobile command center “OLYMPOS.” Aerial support currently includes two firefighting planes and five helicopters, with more expected if needed.
According to police, 385 people have been rescued so far. The Hellenic Coast Guard has deployed three patrol boats off the coast of Palaia Fokaia in case a maritime evacuation becomes necessary. Emergency medical services are on heightened alert with 12 ambulances, including two mobile intensive care units and two rapid-response motorcycles.
Separately, three small fires broke out late Friday in the Athens Polytechnic University campus in Zografou but were quickly brought under full control by 18 firefighters using six vehicles. The Fire Service’s arson investigation unit is probing the cause.
Authorities warn that Saturday poses an “extreme” wildfire risk (category 5) for multiple regions, including Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Achaia, Ilia, Argolida, Corinthia, Arcadia, Laconia, and Kythera, with very high danger in many other parts of the country.
