Firefighters are battling a wildfire in Kokkari on Samos which broke out from a forested area near Vourliotes around midday on Thursday.
112 residents in the villages of Kokkari, Mytilini, Vourliotes, and Mavratzei, were put on high alert later that evening and Samos Police blocked off roads in the villages as they became engulfed in smoke.
Around 37 volunteer firefighters have been deployed in 15 firetrucks and six aircraft and water carriers are hovering over the area to control the fire against what’s currently a light breeze.
The Chief of the Fire Brigade, Lieutenant General Stefanos Kolokouris, and the National Commander of Civil Protection, Theodosios Dimakogiannis, have flown to Samos to help coordinate the response.
Residents in Kokkari are to limit their water usage.
The Arion and Kalidon Panorama hotels were evacuated for a few hours as a precautionary measure.
“Due to the large fire that is approaching a water supply point, we ask for the minimum use of drinking water in the wider area of Kokkari as well as the city of Samos,” the Municipality of Eastern Samos announced.
Kefalonia, Mati, Schinos, and Eleios-Pronnoi, have faced their own fires this summer season.
Source: Ekathimerini, samos24.gr
