The forest fire in central Evia seems to be out of control due to powerful winds blowing in the area. The thick smoke of burning pine trees have reached Attica and capital Athens. On fire is the narrow forest Dirfys protected by NATURA 2000.
The fire is near three village in the area between Kontodespoti-Makrymalli. A monastery and one settlement by Makrymalli were evacuated around 10 o’ clock in Tuesday morning.
Vulnerable groups of the society were ordered to leave their homes, gather in the squares of villages Agrilitsa and Kontodespoti and be stand-by in case the Fire Service considers evacuation as necessary even if for precautionary reasons.
The fire broke out at 3:15 on Tuesday morning, exactly the same time as the wild fire on Paiania/Hymettus, East Attica, a day earlier. The Fire Service investigates “arson”.
Mayor of the area, Giorgos Psathas, spoke of a “very serious fire” that is fed by the thick forest and expressed his concern the development in the next hours.
Psathas indicated “arson” saying that “the fire broke out in an area very near a public road where everyone has access to.”
Strong winds are blowing in the area, the thick smoke makes it difficult for operating aerial means to extinguish the fire.
At the time the fire broke out, winds were blowing with intensity of up to 8 Beaufort. Winds are forecast to weaken in the evening.
Over 130 firefighters with more than 45 trucks as well as municipality mobile water tanks are currently operating in the area.
“We have strong wind and the fire is in a diffuclt to access area,” the spokesman of the Fire Service told media.
Deputy governor, Fanis Spanos told state-run news agency amna that the situation emering in the last hours does not allow us to be optimistic. Strong winds have erupted in the area and the fire is burning uncontrollably despite the overwhelming efforts of the enhanced ground and air forces. We still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Pictures via eviazoom
The fire in Evia seen from a passenger on Olympics at 8:45 a.m.
Εν πτήσει με #olympicair. Η #πυρκαγιά στην #Εύβοια από τα 18.000 πόδια στις 08:43.#Ειδήσεις #φωτια pic.twitter.com/jchcyTBEXM
— Fotis Filippopoulos (@F_Filippopoulos) August 13, 2019
It is the second time this summer that Evia in on fire. In August 2018, police had arrested an arsonist for having started nine fires in the same narrow forest area of Dirfys-Messapia.
Smoke in Athens – WARNING
Athenians woke up on Tuesday morning sensing the smell of “something burning” in the air. Coming form the north and depending on the wind directionThe smoke came from the North, almost all suburbs in West Athens were covered by smoke.
The sense of smoke became stronger also due to a wild fire burning in Thiva, Viotia. The fire started at 6 0′ clock in the morning with winds blowing with intensity of 7 B. Despite the fire extinguishing efforts, the situation is considered as “difficult”, the fire fornt is moving from Viotia to the north boundaries of Attica.
Short before 12 o’ clock noon, The Greek Disease Prevention Authority KEELPNO issued a warning especially for the vulnerable groups among Athenians, especially children and elderly. KEELPNO is urging especially those with respiratory problems to avoid any outdoors activities, to stay indoors and close windows and doors.
Other fires
Wild and forest fires are also burning on the islands of Samothraki and Thassos in North Aegean Sea, in Strofylia, Achaia, Peloponnese, in Giannena, Epirus.
“Very High Risk” of Fires
Greece’s Civil Protection has issued a warning of “very high risk” of fires for Tuesday, August 13, 2019 and for the following regions: Attica, Evros, Samothraki, Limnos, Corinth, Argolida, Evia, SKyros Viotia, Fthiotida
Authorities in Athens and Piraeus have forbidden access of vehicles and people to several parks and hills.
The fire Service had to intervened in 72 cases of forest fires in the last 24 hours, on Monday, August 12.
Minister for Public Order, Mihalis Chrysochoidis, said on Monday that a total of 1,302 fires occurred between 17. July – 12. August 2019. In comparison, a total of 730 wildfires occurred during the same period in 2018.
