Greek police has stopped traffic circulation on the Athens-Corinth national highway from the Agii Theodori intersection to the Epidaurus intersection, on Monday, due to wildfires southeast of the resort town of Loutraki in western Attica.
Traffic has been shut down on both directions.
Video: The blaze of Loutraki before the national highway was closed to traffic.
Η φωτιά στο Λουτράκι νωρίτερα, λίγο πριν κλείσει η εθνική οδός Αθηνών – Κορίνθου. #φωτια #πυρκαγια #Λουτρακι pic.twitter.com/D8v1ccOKoP
— idiotypos (@idiotypos) July 17, 2023
Also Proastiakos train operation to Kiato has been interrupted.
The fire broke out in Irini settlement by Loutraki around 2 o’ clock Monday afternoon and went quickly out of control due to strong winds.
The situation is tragic as the blaze has reached uncontrollable proportions.
μινγουαηλ, λουτράκι τώρα pic.twitter.com/nXVBYq74Ia
— koiniαν (@koinian) July 17, 2023
According to state-broadcaster ERT, locals said that they saw no firefighting engine for quite some time. It apparently needed over an hour until aream means starting dropping water.
Λουτράκι τώρα!
Έχει περάσει μια ώρα και δεν ακούμε αεροπλάνα. #Λουτράκι #loutraki #φωτια #firegreece pic.twitter.com/QSM8V43ycQ— Dimitris Mitzithras (@MitziMagic) July 17, 2023
What is interesting is that while the Fire Service always informs the public, today it vaguely notes that ” , it just said: that “land and aerial forces operate in the area.”
#Πυρκαγιά σε δασική έκταση στην Καλλιθέα Λουτρακίου. Επιχειρούν επίγειες και εναέριες δυνάμεις.
— Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα (@pyrosvestiki) July 17, 2023
Residents of Irini, Kalamaki, Isthmia, Kallithea and Paradisos have been ordered to evacuate in the direction of Corinth.
Among the evacuees are 1,200 children from three summer camps in the area and the residents of an elderly care home.
The first houses have been burned down.
The fire front is heading towards the Kalamaki toll road and is spreading.
Volunteers and firefighters create fire zones so that the fire does not spread to homes.
“The front of the fire that first appeared in the area of Kallithea Loutraki and is now moving towards the areas of Kalamaki and Agioi Theodoros is particularly large,” said the deputy governor of Corinth, Haris Vytiniotis, speaking to the state-run news agency amna.
He added, “strong winds blow in the area and carry the fire at a very high speed, as a result of which areas with olive trees and pines have been burned, while there are reports of damage to houses that are scattered in the wider area of Kallithea”.
