Greek firefighters continue their fight against the flames this Sunday, July 27, the second day of devastating forest fires in several regions, fuss for violent winds and a persistent heat wave throughout Greece.
Five main fires were triggered on Sunday, especially in the Peloponnese Peninsula (Southwest), as well as in the islands of Crete, Evée and Cytera, where airplanes and helicopters resume their operations at dawn, according to firefighters.
“Today (Sunday) promises to be difficult with a very high risk of fire in almost the entire territory,” said the spokesman for Firefighters Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.
However, he said the situation had “improved on most fronts” that appeared on Saturday.
Up to 44 ° C are expected
Greece, a heat wave during the seventh consecutive day, should still register very high temperatures this Sunday with the expected maximum of 43 to 44 ° C, according to the Meteo.GR site of the National Observatory of Athens.
The strong winds of up to 7 Beaufort should breathe in the and eonic seas before weakening during the day, said the same source.
On Saturday, Greek firefighters had to fight “a titanic battle against dozens of fires,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, pointing out “the worsening of the environmental crisis.”
“The fight continues with all available means,” he added on social networks.
“Disturbing” winds
Cytera Island, outside the Peloponnese, continued to face “disturbing” conditions while public television evoked “a great disaster” in this territory of 3,600 inhabitants.
“The houses, hives, olive trees were burned,” said Giorgos Komninos, Vicely of Cythère, in Ert. “A monastery is currently in danger.”
Some 67 firefighters supported by volunteers, three helicopters and two planes fought against the fire on this island, which led to the evacuation of a tourist beach on Saturday.
A “very high” fire risk
In this habitual Mediterranean country of intense heat waves, firefighters called the population to the highest surveillance, repeating that in the case of the start of fire, it was “imperative to follow the instructions for everyone’s safety.” On Saturday, the highest temperature in Greece, 45.2 ° C, was recorded in the West.
From Monday, this whole country has been beaten by a heat wave that has increased the thermometer to 45.8 ° C on Friday locally already 42 ° C in Athens.
The risk of fire remains “very high” for Sunday in Attica (the region where the capital is located), the center and western Greece, creates in particular, according to civil protection. However, a temperature drop should take place on Monday.
EU help requested
Greece has requested the help of the European Union to deal with flames with six fire -fighting aircraft, through the European Resources Program (Receu).
Two Italian planes are expected on Sunday, while the units specialized in this field of the Czech Republic are already in action.
On Saturday, 30 km north of Athens, a fire broke out, resulting in damage and destruction before being dominated. “The wind was too strong. The fire surrounded us,” said Petros Avamopoulos to AFP a counter.
Thousands of hectares destroyed on the island of Ebée
“What can we do? We don’t know (…). I hope they get out. People have lost their property,” he said, Mudó, Giorgos, resident of the Kryoneri village.
On the island of Evée, near the capital, the flames have reduced thousands of hectares of forests to ashes and thousands of head of cattle were lost when the fire has reached scattered farms and farms. Five firefighters were hospitalized on Saturday.
In certain current private areas since Saturday, the equipment has begun to repair the serious damage suffered by the electricity network. Many villages have also found serious water supply problems.
On the island of Crete, the Firefighters dominated the fire in the Canée, according to the Greek news agency Ana. Two other fronts were active in the Peloponnese.
Source: BFM TV
