UPDATE - Greece continues to battle 3 major wildfires in central Attica region

UPDATES WITH LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, EU'S DECISION TO SEND 2 PLANES, PRIME MINISTER RETURNING TO COUNTRY; REVISES DECK, MINOR EDITS

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Greece continued to battle three major wildfires that broke out on Monday in the central region of Attica, where the capital Athens is also located, local media reported on Tuesday.

A fire in the Dervenochoria municipality is particularly strong due to strong winds, public broadcaster ERT said, adding that the firefighters are trying to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent areas of Magoula, Mandra and Elefsina.

Meanwhile, the civil protection authority, through SMS messages, advised the residents of the area to stay indoors and keep the windows and doors closed for their safety.

Some 140 firefighters and 48 vehicles, as well as six aircraft and a helicopter have been working to put the fire under control, according to the fire department.

The fire in Viotia is already under control, while firefighters are still responding to the blaze in Loutraki, said the fire department, adding that strong winds hinder efforts to control the fire.

Furthermore, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic announced that four firefighting planes will arrive in Greece on Tuesday.

"Following Greek request for assistance to tackle wildfires in the Attica region, we are mobilising 2 Canadairs from the EU Civil Protection Pool in France and 2 Canadairs from our fleet in Italy, expected to arrive still today," Lenarcic said on Twitter.

In a related development, the state-run AMNA news agency reported that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has decided to cut short his visit to Brussels and return to his country in the wake of the wildfires.

He was in Brussels to participate in the two-day Summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries that started on Monday.

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias announced that at least two people were arrested over their suspected links to the fire in Viotia and investigations into other fires are underway.

He also said at least 81 forest fires broke out across the country on Monday.