The Greater Athens region and surrounding areas, as well as the islands of Evia and Lesvos in the Aegean Sea, will be on maximum alert for wildfires Thursday, with high winds forecast and some green spaces in the capital sealed to visitors as a precaution.
Civil protection authorities said Wednesday that Attica, neighboring Viotia, as well as the Argolid and Corinthia in the northeastern Peloponnese, and Evia and Lesvos, faced a category-5 threat of wildfire on Greece’s 5-notch scale.
Most of the Aegean islands and large chunks of the mainland face a category-4 threat, while only central and western Macedonia have been placed at a category-2 risk.
Municipal authorities in Athens said the hills of Lycabettus and Finopoulos in the city center would be closed to all members of the public from midnight Wednesday until the danger is deemed to have passed.
Athenians were also urged to avoid carrying out work projects outdoors that could produce sparks or use naked flames. City officials will be on alert with municipal police carrying out fire patrols with the aid of drones in parks and other green spaces.
