The Foreign Travel Advice has issued an urgent warning to British holidaymakers heading to Greece as wildfires engulf the country.
Wildfires have been spreading across western Europe as temperatures rise with locals and tourists battling extreme heat. From July 19, there have been on going blazes throughout Greece and tourists are being evacuated.
This comes after forest fires sparked Portugal to declare state of emergency while Spain and France battle fatal blazes and villages are being evacuated. Germany has also been put on alert after they expect temperatures to rise to 40C.
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Forest fires are spreading around Greece, including Markopoulou which is close to Athens International Airport. Since Tuesday, fire fighters have also been battling blazes in Attica, including some northern suburbs of Athens, and Megara.
Foreign Travel Advice also warns that the fires could spread. They add: "Given current weather conditions (extreme heat and high winds), Civil Protection authorities are warning of very high risk for fire in Attica, Kythera, south Evoia, Argolis, Korinthia, Lakonia, Samos, Ikaria, Chios, Psarra.
"In the case of wildfires, the situation on the ground can change quickly, so you should stay up to date with official advice and alerts by subscribing to the Civil Protection’s SMS or email service, or via “112 Greece” on twitter (to translate to English, click on the tweet and press ‘Translate Tweet’)."
On Tuesday July 19, wildfires fuelled by gale-force winds ripped through the mountainous region of Penteli near Athens. Authorities were quickly prompted to order the evacuation of at least four areas and a hospital. Heavy clouds of smoke were rising into the sky billowing over Mount Penteli where the fire broke out at 2.30pm, some 27 km (16 miles) north of central Athens.
UK holidaymakers are being urged to take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas. They are told to make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished, and don’t light barbecues. Causing a forest fire is treated as a criminal offence in Greece even if unintentional.
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