The devastating wildfire in Corinthia, located in the Peloponnese region, has continued to rage on with firefighting teams ramping up their efforts on multiple fronts across Evrostina, Xanthochori, Sofiana, Koumaria-Rozena, Chelidoreo and Ano Pitsa.
The flames have engulfed forested areas in challenging terrain, however a decrease in winds to 2-3 on the Beaufort scale provided some much-needed respite.
A total of 490 firefighters, along with 16 ground teams and 159 vehicles, have been deployed to combat the flames. Their efforts are supported by volunteers, local authorities and heavy machinery. Aerial assistance includes 31 aircraft—17 helicopters and 14 planes.
Two water-bombing aircrafts from Italy joined the firefighting efforts late Tuesday, October 1 following Greece’s request for assistance via the EU’s emergency civil protection mechanism, with a third plane from Croatia expected to arrive soon.
Tragically, the wildfire has claimed the lives of two local residents who were caught in the rapidly advancing flames on Sunday, September 29, exacerbated by strong winds.
Vassilis Kikilias, Greece’s minister for climate change and civil protection, noted that up to 5,000 hectares (12,300 acres) have been affected by the fire thus far.
“The situation is very difficult,” Kikilias said.
“We didn’t expect that at this time of year… there would be so many wildfires and that they would be so difficult to handle.”
Source: Ekathimerini.
