Intense heat and gusty winds have sparked wildfires in the suburbs of Athens. Tour operators say there is no threat to Russian organized tourists: their traditional holiday destinations are located far from the fires, according to Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).
In Greece Hot weather has been simmering since the beginning of July, with temperatures reaching 38–40 degrees Celsius (100–104 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days. Due to the high temperatures, even the famous Acropolis was closed from midday last Monday to prevent heatstroke among tourists.
The abnormal heat was one of the causes of several fires around Athens. According to Greek media, the largest fires were recorded in two locations: Rafina (30 km east of Athens), home to a port linking the mainland with several islands by ferry, and Kineta (55 km west of Athens).
Strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. "We were unlucky. The wind shifted and came at us with such force that it destroyed the coastal area in minutes. The fire caught people by surprise," said Rafina Mayor Evangelis Bournoos, who estimates that about 100 homes in the city burned.
According to preliminary reports, as of Tuesday morning, at least 26 people were killed (other sources say at least 50) and more than 100 were injured. There are no reports of casualties or injuries among tourists. Currently, approximately 600 firefighters, military personnel, and sailors are involved in extinguishing the fire. The fires are being contained. As of Tuesday morning, only active firefighting operations are known to be underway on the outskirts of the resort town of Xylokastro.
Greek authorities have already requested assistance from other countries to help them cope with the disaster more quickly.
The fire did not pose an immediate threat to Greece's famous ancient monuments or to Athens itself. However, many residents of the capital rushed to leave the city, causing traffic congestion and hampering firefighters' access. Rail service was also disrupted. Ferry service from Rafina was temporarily limited. There are reports of residents and tourists being evacuated from some areas in Rafina on Tuesday morning. There are no immediate reports of Russian nationals among them.
Heavy rain is forecast for southern Greece on Wednesday, which should help contain the fires.
According to tour operators, Russian organized tourists vacationing in Athens or resort towns near the capital are not in danger.
"There is no threat to the lives or health of tourists. The situation is under control. We are closely monitoring developments and, moreover, are working proactively. On Monday, we offered three of our tourists in the region relocation. Even though their hotel was located far from the fires, to ensure the safety of our guests, we decided to accommodate them in another hotel," said Alexander Tsandekidis, CEO of tour operator Mouzenidis Travel.
According to him, the fire did not affect the Attica region's hotel inventory. "All popular accommodations are located far from the fire sites," he emphasized.
According to Mr. Tsandekidis, there are Russian tourists in Athens, but "they're few in number." "Mostly, Russians go on summer vacation to the Greek islands or to mainland resorts further from the capital," he noted.
Source: trn-news.ru