Strong winds rekindle wildfires in West Attica, Rhodes and Peloponnese

·

Firefighters in Greece are battling reignited wildfires in West Attica, the island of Rhodes and Lefkohoma in Laconia, triggering a series of new evacuations.

Greek authorities had declared the wildfires contained overnight but firefighters lost control on Thursday due to strong wings.

According to Fire Brigade press spokesperson Lt-Colonel Yiannis Artopoios, in the greater West Attica area there are 11 firefighting airplanes and 11 helicopters, including the four aircraft provided by Italy and France to Greece through the EU’s RescEU mechanism.

Residents of the areas of Agia Sotira, Paleokoundoura, Panorama, Paleohori and Agios Ioannis Korakas in West Attica have been told to evacuate.

Firefighters battle rekindled flames in Greece on Thursday. Photo: AMNA.gr.

In the Laconian region, fire rekindling created new fronts southeast of the settlement of Lefkohoma, which are being fought by strong land forces as well as four aircraft and one helicopter.

On the island of Rhodes, there are multiple rekindlings of fire on the mountain range in the centre of the island, and three aircraft with two helicopters are operating there.

Lt-Colonel Artopoios confirmed that overall in Greece there were 62 forest fires in the last 24 hours, most of which were put out early on.

This comes as temperatures across Greece are expected to rise to new highs as of Thursday through Sunday, and the fire threat in the country remains high.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Greek Prime Minister to meet US President Biden at the White House in May

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will visit the White House on May 16 to meet US President, Joe Biden.

Meteora: The UNESCO heritage listed monasteries of Greece

"Meteora" monasteries are built on the top of stoned pillars, and their name is translated as "suspended in the air."

Germany’s President visits the site of future Holocaust museum in Thessaloniki

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier began a three-day state visit to Greece where he saw the site of a Holocaust museum in construction.