Fire Brigade responds to fires and flooding, mostly due to powerful storms

A total of 62 fires broke out in the last 24 hours, most of them due to lightning during the powerful weather front raging in Greece on Thursday, the Fire Brigade said.

Of the 62, 52 were put out in their initial stage, while firefighters are battling 10 more. Civil Protection said that eight fires broke out within three hours in Sounion (Legrena), Villia, Lavrion, Dionyssos, Marathonas, Epidavros, Delphi, and Lesvos.The Fire Brigade said firefighting means by air operated in the following areas, mostly within forests, at Villia, Sounion, Lavrion, Dionyssos, Marathonas, Delphi, Epidavros, and Lesvos. FloodingThe Fire Brigade received a total of 86 calls due to heavy rainfall and storms affecting Attica and Central Macedonia on Thursday. According to a statement from the Fire Brigade, the majority of these calls were related to water pumping operations, and the majority were in Attica. Civil Protection, also issued recommendations urging citizens to exercise caution and implement self-protection measures to mitigate the risks posed by the severe weather. General Secretariat of Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr) under the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, has communicated with all relevant state agencies, regions and municipalities. These entities have been placed on heightened alert to ensure a prompt and effective response to the weather-induced challenges.