The state apparatus is on full operational readiness today, Wednesday, July 22, as the combination of an extreme heatwave, very low humidity, and strong katabatic winds creates extremely dangerous pyrometeorological conditions. The Civil Protection has implemented an emergency action plan, while several areas of the country are under a Red Code alert, as the risk of ignition and rapid spread of fires is considered extreme.
During yesterday’s meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee and the Civil Protection Coordinating Body, under the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas, it was emphasized that the day’s weather conditions require increased vigilance from all involved services.
Areas with extreme fire risk (Category 5)
According to the Fire Risk Prediction Map, Extreme Risk (Category 5) is forecast for:
- Attica
- Boeotia
- Fthiotida
- Argolida
- Corinthia
Very high risk (Category 4)
A very high risk of fire is also forecast for:
- Arcadia
- Laconia
- Aetolia-Acarnania
- Achaea
- Phocis
- Euboea
- Karditsa
- Larissa
- Magnesia
- Sporades
- Trikala
- Kilkis
- Thessaloniki
- Rhodes
In which areas the Red Code is activated
By decision of the General Secretary of Civil Protection, the following areas are placed on mobilization status (Red Code) today:
- Region of Attica
- Argolida
- Corinthia
- Arcadia
- Laconia
- Aetolia-Acarnania
- Achaea
- The entire Region of Thessaly
- Kilkis
- Thessaloniki
- Rhodes
Tournas’ warning: “Conditions reminiscent of Mati”
Particularly alarming was the warning from the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, who stressed that today’s pyrometeorological characteristics show similarities to those that prevailed during the deadly fire in Mati.
As he explained, the strong westerly and northwesterly winds will act as katabatic winds in the eastern regions and, combined with the heatwave, drought, and low humidity, can cause the explosive spread of a fire.
“We will have strong westerly and northwesterly winds, which will become katabatic in the east and resemble, I would say, the phenomenon we had in Mati,” he characteristically stated.
The minister called on citizens to be extremely careful, pointing out that even a small outbreak can escalate into an uncontrollable fire within minutes.
“We must be very careful, because starting a fire is prohibited. The conditions will be such that it will be very difficult to tackle any incident in its initial stages,” he stressed.
