|
|
|
|
|
21 July 2023
|
Wildfires burn near Athens, houses damaged, Greece
|
|
|
Villagers were ordered to leave their homes as two separate wildfires fanned by strong winds damaged houses southeast and west of Athens on Monday, 17 July 2023.
Several houses were damaged by a fire that broke out in the village of Kouvaras, about 27 kilometres from the Greek capital, Athens and spread fast to nearby settlements, a Greek fire service official said. Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft were trying to control the flames amid gale-force winds.
One of the fire fronts stretched over eight kilometres, according to witnesses and officials, burning homes and cars around the area of Mandra, west of the capital, which was blanketed by dense smoke.
At first light, air water bombers resumed operations over the towns of Mandra, west of Athens and Loutraki, close to the Corinth canal which separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnese. Fire fighters worked throughout the night to keep flames at bay and away from a complex of coastal refineries.
Four aircraft sent from Italy and France will join the efforts on Wednesday, authorities said.
The fire brigade reported that a third fire had broken out on the island of Rhodes.
Dozens of homes were gutted and hundreds forced to flee towering flames which seared through hamlets on Tuesday.
Traffic was suspended for hours on two roads connecting the mainland to the Peloponnese. They were partially reopened early Wednesday.
Greek television showed a house and several cars gutted by the blaze and white and black smoke billowing from burning vegetation.
“It's a difficult day with several fires (burning) across the country," Greek Fire Service spokesperson Ioannis Artopoios told a televised briefing, adding that fire brigade services have been placed on standby duty in the wider Athens area.
Residents of at least two villages, a summer camp and a rehabilitation centre were evacuated in another wildfire close to the seaside resort of Loutraki, about 50 miles west of Athens, the fire service and local authorities said.
Some 59 firemen with 19 fire engines and seven aircraft have been deployed to contain that fire.
The Greek meteorological service has warned of a high danger of fire, just as the country is recovering from the first major heatwave of the summer. A second heatwave is forecast to affect the Mediterranean nation later this week.
Changing weather conditions associated with global warming will further increase the danger of fire in Europe, according to research by the European Commission.
Sources: Reuters
Several houses were damaged by a fire that broke out in the village of Kouvaras, about 27 kilometres from the Greek capital, Athens and spread fast to nearby settlements, a Greek fire service official said. Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft were trying to control the flames amid gale-force winds.
One of the fire fronts stretched over eight kilometres, according to witnesses and officials, burning homes and cars around the area of Mandra, west of the capital, which was blanketed by dense smoke.
At first light, air water bombers resumed operations over the towns of Mandra, west of Athens and Loutraki, close to the Corinth canal which separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnese. Fire fighters worked throughout the night to keep flames at bay and away from a complex of coastal refineries.
Four aircraft sent from Italy and France will join the efforts on Wednesday, authorities said.
The fire brigade reported that a third fire had broken out on the island of Rhodes.
Dozens of homes were gutted and hundreds forced to flee towering flames which seared through hamlets on Tuesday.
Traffic was suspended for hours on two roads connecting the mainland to the Peloponnese. They were partially reopened early Wednesday.
Greek television showed a house and several cars gutted by the blaze and white and black smoke billowing from burning vegetation.
“It's a difficult day with several fires (burning) across the country," Greek Fire Service spokesperson Ioannis Artopoios told a televised briefing, adding that fire brigade services have been placed on standby duty in the wider Athens area.
Residents of at least two villages, a summer camp and a rehabilitation centre were evacuated in another wildfire close to the seaside resort of Loutraki, about 50 miles west of Athens, the fire service and local authorities said.
Some 59 firemen with 19 fire engines and seven aircraft have been deployed to contain that fire.
The Greek meteorological service has warned of a high danger of fire, just as the country is recovering from the first major heatwave of the summer. A second heatwave is forecast to affect the Mediterranean nation later this week.
Changing weather conditions associated with global warming will further increase the danger of fire in Europe, according to research by the European Commission.
Sources: Reuters
