by Nearly 500 firefighters, 120 vehicles, three planes and four helicopters swung into action from dawn to battle the flames from approaching areas such as Gerakas, which is home to some 29,000 people.
The wildfires on the foot of Mount Penteli north of Athens constantly changed direction due to excessive winds, a spokesman for the firefighters said Wednesday. This made it very hard to stop. Many residents of this area have been evacuated to safety.
Traffic was also suspended on parts of a ring road around Athens. Planes and helicopters were deployed early Wednesday to stop the wildfire from spreading to the mountainside of North Athens. Firefighters battled 117 wildfires in the country in the last 24 hours.
Greece has called out to European countries to help provide them with Firefighters.
