More reinforcements, both in the air and on the ground, were sent to help the existing forces fighting the fire that started in Keratea, Attica shortly before noon on Sunday. In addition, a new message from the 112 emergency number was sent at 13:46 on Sunday, instructing people in Markati and the Agios Georgios Thorikou area to evacuate in the direction of Lavrio.
A total of 78 firefighters, with two teams of foot and 26 vehicles, were operating in the area, with eight airplanes and four helicopters dropping water from the air. The fire fighting effort was significantly hampered by brisk winds of about 6 Beaufort blowing in the area, with wind gusts reaching as high as 9 Beaufort.
Earlier, at 12:35 on Sunday, a message from the 112 emergency number was sent to people in the villages of Paleokamariza, Markati, Plaka and Panorama and Keratea in Attica, telling to make their way to Lavrio using the old Athens-Lavrio national road due to a forest fire in the area.
The fire started in low-growing vegetation in the Plaka area in Keratea, Attica and was burning close to houses. A force of 56 firefighters, with two teams on foot and 17 vehicles, was initially deployed to extinguish the blaze, assisted by eight airplanes and two helicopters.
Police announced that traffic was being diverted due to the fire, on the old Lavrio Avenue and Plaka Avenue on the Togani side, and on the same two roads from the entrance for Markati, while the traffic measures were later extended to Athens-Sounio Avenue and Karamanlis Avenue, Lavriou and Kamarizis Avenue and the Keratea-Anavyssos rural road.