Evacuations have been ordered across Greece as local authorities try to get under control four major fires raging across the country on Monday night, AMNA has reported.
Two of the four large fires broke out in Attica at Kouvaras (Southeast Attica) and at Dervenoxoria (North Attica), one in the forest area of Kallithea (southeast of Loutraki, in Corinthia), and a fourth at Kaparelli in Boeotia (Viotia).
Kouvaras and Dervenoxoria:
At Kouvaras, 210 firefighters with 10 ground teams and 68 fire engines are battling the flames, assisted by 10 water-dowsing airplanes and 6 helicopters. Greek authorities said the fire was moving really fast, spanning 12 kilometres in about 2 hours and aided by high winds.
At Dervenochoria, 105 firefighters with 3 ground teams and 30 fire engines are operating on land. Efforts are focused on ensuring the fire did not spread to nearby Mount Parnitha.
Kaparelli and Loutraki:
At Kaparelli in Boeotia, 94 firefighters with 2 ground teams and 30 fire engines are assisted by 4 water-dowsing airplanes and 2 helicopters. According to officials, the fire at Kaparelli was contained within a specific area.
Breaking out almost at the same time as Kaparelli, the fire at forestland in Kallithea (Loutraki area) headed towards Agios Charalambos village at great speed, damaging several homes.
At least two villages, a children’s summer camp and rehabilitation centre for seniors were evacuated at Loutraki, the fire service and local authorities said.
The evacuations were ordered as gusts of wind up to 70 kilometres per hour (45 miles per hour) pushed flames through hillside scrub and pine forests parched by extreme heat.
Heatwave gripping Greece:
Greece has been gripped by a heatwave since last week with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius in the centre of the country.
Greater Athens and much of southern Greece were on the second highest level of alert for wildfires Monday and Tuesday following a four-day heatwave that eased over the weekend. More heat wave temperatures are expected later in the week.
