Portuguese President calls Greek President over devastating Attica fires

Portuguese President  Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa contacted the President of the Hellenic Republic Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou last night and expressed his sorrow but also the support of both the Portuguese people and himself for the devastating fires raging in Attica.

Rebelo de Sousa expressed the hope that no human lives would be lost and that the fires would be extinguished as soon as possible.

The two Presidents agreed that climate change is a major challenge for Europe and the planet as a whole.

The call of support comes as more than 80 fires broke out in the last 24 hours in Greece, with residents evacuated yesterday from the northern Athenian suburb of Varybobi,  following a large fire that broke out in a forest near the former royal estate.

In an update late on Tuesday, authorities said they were evacuating Thrakomakedones, in the same suburb of Acharnes.

Suburban railroad trains between Athens and Thessaloniki and Athens and Chalkida (Evia) have been suspended due to the conditions created by the fire, TrainOSE said.

READ: More Than 80 Fires Break Out In Last 24 Hours