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A wildfire broke out around midday Monday in grassland near Athens International Airport, close to the training ground of Greek soccer club AEK, in the town of Spata in eastern Attica.

A large firefighting force is tackling the blaze: 120 firefighters, four ground units from the 1st EMODE forest firefighting division, and 35 vehicles, backed by four helicopters and two water-dropping planes. Volunteers and municipal water tankers are also helping.

Strong winds scattered the fire into numerous pockets in the Lepotroupi area, between the airport and Spata, and threatened AEK’s training center. Firefighters working from the air and on the ground had contained the most dangerous fronts shortly after 4:20 p.m., but the blaze is still burning mostly under control and the operation is ongoing.

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A warning was issued through 112, the European emergency number, urging residents to stay alert and follow instructions from authorities. Passengers and visitors at Athens International Airport also received the message. The alert described an agricultural and forest fire in the Spata area of eastern Attica and called on people to remain ready and heed official guidance.

Police halted traffic at the junction of Dimarchou Christou Beka and Vasileos Pavlou streets. Flights departing from Athens International Airport are experiencing delays becuase of the developing situation.