Lavrio & Salamina Wildfires, 25 August 2026: Athens Evacuation Alerts
Updated 26 August 2026. A cluster of wildfires broke out across Attica on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday 25 August 2026. Emergency 112 alerts ordered residents of Agia Marina and Tsonima near Lavrio to evacuate, and two settlements on the island of Salamina were told to move toward the Karaiskakis waterfront. A separate lineside fire at Aspropyrgos briefly suspended Athens suburban-railway services. No disruption was reported at Athens International Airport, on Metro Line 3 or at the port of Piraeus, and by Wednesday morning the Salamina front had been contained.
| Where | When | Impact on travellers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keratea / Lavrio (Kalopigado) | Afternoon of 25 Aug | 112 evacuation alerts for Agia Marina and Tsonima; short-notice local road closures possible on the Lavrio and Cape Sounion corridor | Large firefighting operation — more than 70 firefighters, 23 engines and five water-dropping aircraft |
| Salamina island (Elliniko area) | From about 16:40 on 25 Aug | Evacuation alerts for Ano Vasilika and Neo Salamina; no reported impact on Piraeus ferry services | Reported contained on 26 August |
| Aspropyrgos, west Attica | About 21:15 on 25 Aug | Suburban railway suspended on the Nea Peramos–Ano Liosia section | Power and services restored gradually after 22:45 |
| Athens airport, Metro Line 3, Piraeus | 25–26 Aug | No disruption reported | Operating normally |
| Fire risk for 26 August | 26 Aug | Category 4 (very high) with Red Code mobilisation for the Ionian Islands region; high risk across most of the rest of Greece | Per the General Secretariat for Civil Protection |
What happened
The fires broke out during a late-summer heatwave, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C. The first major front started in low vegetation at Kalopigado, near Keratea in southeastern Attica, close to the road corridor used for Cape Sounion day trips and transfers to Lavrio ferry port. More than 70 firefighters, 23 fire engines and five water-dropping aircraft were deployed, and 112 alerts were sent to phones in Agia Marina and Tsonima.
A second front started at around 16:40 on the island of Salamina, just off Piraeus, in the Elliniko area near the old firing range, sending a large plume of black smoke over the island. Residents of Ano Vasilika and Neo Salamina were told to move toward the Karaiskakis waterfront. Hellenic Navy sources said the naval base facilities and ships on Salamina were not threatened at any point. The Salamina front was reported contained on the morning of Wednesday 26 August.
Elsewhere in Greece the fire service was fighting blazes on the northern slopes of Mount Parnitha near Stefani, at Agios Vlassios in Viotia where the village of Tsoukalades was evacuated, in the Iraklio area of Crete, near Veria, in the Zagori region and near Kavala. Separately, a fire that started next to the railway line at Aspropyrgos at about 21:15 cut power on the Loutropyrgos–Ano Liosia section and suspended trains between Nea Peramos and Ano Liosia. Ten firefighters with three vehicles brought it under control quickly, and Hellenic Train said power and services were restored gradually after 22:45.
Heading to Lavrio port or Cape Sounion? What it means for your transfer
Keratea sits directly on the inland route between Athens, Cape Sounion and the ferry port of Lavrio, which serves Kea and Kythnos. While a front is active in this area, the fire service and police can close side roads and divert traffic at very short notice, which adds time to Sounion day trips and Lavrio ferry connections. If you have a ferry to catch from Lavrio, build in a buffer of at least an hour beyond your usual travel time, and do not rely on a walk-up taxi from central Athens on a day when the fire service is operating in the area.
Trips to and from Athens International Airport were not affected. The nearest front, at Keratea, is roughly 20 km south of the airport, and the Attiki Odos motorway, Metro Line 3 and the X95 airport bus all ran normally. If you are travelling on the suburban railway toward Kiato or Corinth, check the operator’s live updates before setting out, as the Nea Peramos–Ano Liosia section was only progressively returning to normal.
Sources: Kathimerini, Newsbomb and the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.
Do not let a fire alert cost you your flight or your ferry
During fire alerts and short-notice road diversions, a pre-booked private transfer with a local driver is the most reliable way to reach the airport, Lavrio or Cape Sounion on time. Fixed price agreed in advance, flight tracking, and a driver who knows the detours before you do.
Frequently asked questions
Are ferries from Lavrio still running after the 25 August fire?
No sailing ban was reported at Lavrio, Rafina or Piraeus in connection with the fires. Ferry cancellations in Greece are almost always driven by gale-force winds rather than by wildfires, so check directly with your operator on the day of travel.
Was Athens International Airport affected by the wildfires?
No disruption to the airport, the Attiki Odos motorway, Metro Line 3 or the X95 bus was reported. The nearest front, at Keratea near Lavrio, is roughly 20 km south of the airport.
Is the Athens suburban railway running normally?
Services on the Nea Peramos–Ano Liosia section were suspended from about 21:15 on 25 August and restored gradually after 22:45, with Hellenic Train saying normal running would return progressively. Check the operator’s live updates before you travel.
Related guides
- Athens Strikes & Travel Disruptions Today (Live Tracker)
- Athens Airport Taxi Guide 2026
- Salamina Wildfire, 16 August 2026
- Kouvaras Wildfire and Sounio Road Diversions
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