GREECE ON FIRE: Lighting strikes ignite new fires west of Athens

Lightning strikes have ignited new fires west of Athens as of yesterday, according to authorities.

The new fire outbreaks are reported to be in six locations in the greater region of Mandra and Porto Germeno.

The Fire Brigade was on site with 40 firefighters, 12 fire trucks, 2 ground teams, and 2 helicopters, until sunset yesterday.

Meanwhile small pockets of wildfires continue to burn in areas of  Ancient Olympia  in Ilia, western Peloponnese, Deputy Regional Director of Ilia Vassilis Yannopoulos said on Wednesday.

Firefighters are focused on a region among the communities of Lasdika, Milies and Kryoneri, "where one more ground team of firefighters is expected shortly."

Yannopoulos said that another 30 firefighters from Austria were expected to arrive today (12/8) to assist in the firefighters efforts.

In addition, firefighters and heavy machinery still remain at the administrative borders of Ilia and Arcadia prefectures to prevent the fire in Gortynia, the region east of Olympia, from spreading into Ilia.

Specifically, they are posted at Xirokambos and Vassilaki in the Ancient Olympia township, and in the areas Sekoulas, Dafnoula and Alifira of the Andritsena-Krestena township.

"Although the danger of rekindlings in the fire fronts has not yet been alleviated, we are speeding up our efforts to register damages immediately," Yiannopoulos added.

READ: Greece: The BIGGEST Fire Of All Time, Up To 700,000 Acres Have Been Burned