Not only has Athens been covered in smoke due to the fires affecting areas from Alexandroupoli to Parnitha and Menidi, but even Malta and Sicily.
While dozens of forest fires are raging in our country and destroying thousands of acres of forest, arable land, and inhabited areas, smoke has covered a large part of the Eastern Mediterranean. Especially the fires in Thrace, the front of which exceeded 60 kilometres, produce vast amounts of fine particles that have now reached Southern Italy and Malta.
The weather conditions prevailing in the Central Mediterranean favour the sedimentation of gaseous masses and the microparticles close to the ground.
The satellite image processed by the National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr on the morning of Wednesday, 23/8, is typical, which shows the area covered by the smoke from the fires in Greece.
Especially in Sicily and Malta, the air quality is deficient due to the high concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 microparticles.
Below is an image from the weather camera in Sliema, Malta, showing the limited visibility in the city's port.
Fire Brigade forces continue to battle a series of fire fronts across the country on Wednesday as a total of 209 wildfires broke out in the last three days.
The wildfire that broke out yesterday (Tuesday) in Fyli has affected areas south of Mt.Parnitha and the wider area of Dardiza as well as the areas Aghia Paraskevi and Amygdaleza.
A total of 65 fire engines with 202-member crew, nine teams of firefighters on foot assisted by 7 firefighting aircraft (including two from Sweden and two from Germany) and 8 water dropping helicopters, one of them holding a coordinator role, are currently battling the blaze, the Fire Bridage said.
Active fronts are still burning in Alexandroupolis and specifically in the areas Petrota, Perama and Mesimvria and the front that broke out in Dadia forest at the areas of Nipsa and Esimi.
Strong firefighting forces are operating in the area including 10 fire engines with a 56-member crew from Romania assisted by 5 firefighting aircraft (two from Cyprus) and 8 water dropping helicopters, one of them holding a coordinator role, the Fire Brigade spokesperson Yiannis Artopios said on Wednesday.
Additionally, the picture of the wildfires in Chryssoupoli, Kavala was better on Wednesday while the fire fronts in Rodopi (Ano Drossini and Mischos) and in Thiva have still active fronts.
"The conditions continue to be difficult and in some cases extreme," Artopios concluded.
Albania sends two fire engines with 9 member-crew to Greece on Wednesday in an effort to help Greece in the battle against the wildfires.
In a post on Twitter the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama said: "It is so sad to watch our beautiful neighbouring country constantly suffer from wildfires, while the brave Greek people and all of them in uniform fighting against such devastations deserve our full solidarity and profound admiration".
Meanwhile, police is evacuating the migrants structure in Amygdaleza for precautionary reasons due to the wildfire that is in progress in Fyli, Attica region.
According to police sourcesm about 700 inviduals are in the structure and they will be transferred by buses to Malakasa and the migrants' structure at Petrou.
The settlements Aghia Paraskevi and Kapota in Menidi, western Attica are being evacutated due to the wildfire in progress.
The residents of the above mentioned areas were informed by a message via the emergency number 112 to evacuate the area.
The wildfire that broke out on Tuesday in Fyli is at the boundaries of the national park of Mt Parnitha, Fire Brigade sources said on Wednesday.
The direction of the winds prevailing in the area are "pushing" the flames towards the national park and a huge effort is underway to keep the front low.
Meanwhile, police is evacuating the migrants structure in Amygdaleza for precautionary reasons due to the wildfire that is in progress in Fyli, Attica region.
According to police sources about 700 individuals are in the structure and they will be transferred by buses to Malakasa and the migrants' structure on Petrou Ralli avenue.
READ MORE: Fire in Alexandroupoli: Satellite reveals the size of the fiery nightmare - See photos.
