Multinational force works to tame wildfire flare-ups in Evia and near Ancient Olympia

·

Hundreds of firefighters from across Europe and the Mideast worked alongside their Greek colleagues in rugged terrain on Wednesday, trying to contain flareups of the huge wildfires that have ravaged Greece’s forests for a week, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate.

The spread of the blazes has been largely halted, officials said, but fronts still burned on the large island of Evia and in Greece’s southern Peloponnese region, where several homes were on fire, according to state ERT TV.

Small pockets of wildfires continued to burn in areas of the Ancient Olympia township, in Ilia, western Peloponnese, Deputy Regional Director of Ilia Vassilis Yannopoulos said.

READ MORE: Mytilineos sources helicopters and crew from Australia to fight fires in Greece.

A firefighter from Slovakia tries to extinguish a fire in Avgaria village on Evia island. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Karadjias.

Firefighters and heavy machinery also still remain at the administrative borders of Ilia and Arcadia prefectures to prevent the fire in Gortynia, the region east of Olympia, from spreading into Ilia.

“Although the danger of rekindlings in the fire fronts has not yet been alleviated, we are speeding up our efforts to register damages immediately,” Yiannopoulos said.

The fires broke out last week after Greece had just experienced its most protracted heatwave since 1987, leaving its forests tinder-dry.

READ MORE: Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day.

A burnt forest in Agia Anna village on Evia island. Photo: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas.

Greece’s fire service said 900 firefighters, including teams from Poland, Romania, Cyprus, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia and Moldova, and 27 aircraft were working on Evia, Greece’s second-largest island which is linked to the mainland by a bridge.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, spoke on the phone Wednesday with top officials from Ukraine, Qatar and Romania to “warmly thank them” for their contributions. The three countries sent 340 firefighters and 24 vehicles in response to Greece’s appeal for help.

Two Egyptian Chinook helicopters fly over Elefsina Military Air Base, providing firefighting assistance in Greece, August 11, 2021. Photo: Louiza Vradi/Reuters.

Evia’s northern part, which has forests entwined with villages and small seaside resorts, has suffered the greatest damage, with an estimated 50,000 hectares (123,000 acres) lost and dozens of homes burned.

Retiree Maria Roga said although her house in Pefki, a village on Evia, was saved from the flames that burned a neighboring home, she still worries about flare-ups.

“I’m still afraid. I’m afraid,” she told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “(But) I can’t complain. I am very grateful, I am one of the lucky ones.”

Source: AP News.

greek film festival melbourne

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Bouzouki Night 2025: A celebration of youth, culture and Hellenic pride in the Capital

It was a night of kefi in Canberra as 300 guests filled the Hellenic Club of Canberra for the Hellenic Youth Club’s Bouzouki Night 2025.

Cretan and Kalymnian youth in Sydney unite for a night of dance, music and kefi

The spirit of Greece came alive in Sydney as the Cretan Youth Association of Sydney and the Kalymnian Youth Society of NSW hosted Xoro.

Greek language attainment award, from yiayia’s kitchen to the classroom

The Greek Centre in Melbourne filled with pride and applause on Saturday, October 18 as the GCM honoured students of all ages.

Once a year, the future gathers at the Australian Hellenic War Memorial

Once a year, on an October spring morning, the Australian Hellenic War Memorial (AHWM) fills with the laughter of children.

Parliament House to host inaugural Women of the Greek Diaspora Forum

The Embassy of Greece in Australia will present the inaugural Women of the Greek Diaspora Forum, an exciting event.

You May Also Like

Natasa Theodoridou visits the Greek Centre in Melbourne

The renowned Greek singer, Natasa Theodoridou, paid a surprise visit to the Greek Centre in Melbourne, Victoria on Wednesday, May 31.

Stefanos Tsitsipas: ‘I was one of the most shy kids in my class’

"I was introverted as a child, very shy when I was young, one of the most shy kids in my class and I could never really express myself," Tsitsipas said.

Greek Revolution heroes turned into LEGO figures to celebrate Greek National Day

Theodoros Kolokotronis, Alexandros Mavrokordatos and Lord Byron have all been immortalised in LEGO by Australian Liam D. Jensen.