A wild fire has been raging in the resort of Loutraki in the Gulf of Corinth still on Sunday creating a suffocating atmosphere. The blaze that broke out on Saturday is reportedly out of control due to strong winds blowing in the area.. The fire is just one of the 68 in total that broke out across Greece in the last 24 hours sending to the field more than 850 firefighters.
The fire broke out Saturday noon on the surrounding mountain above the sea resort. It spread quickly due to the strong winds and soon went out of control.
Some 50 people were evacuated from Agios Patapios Monastery yesterday. The flames came close to the monastery but they did not cause any damage due to deforestation around the compound.
More than 170 firefighters have been operating in the area since Saturday. They fought all through the night against the blaze.
Loutraki fire as seen from Corinth on Saturday night
However, they were not able to take it under control still on Sunday noon due to the winds blowing with intensity of over 5 Beaufort.
The Fire Service is assisted by seven aerial means.
Mayor of Loutraki, Giorgos Gionis, told Skai TV that they suspect as “reason for the fire was short circuit in columns of the Public Power Company as electricity went out in half of the town of Loutraki.”
Thick smoke has covered the town and the surrounding area. According to local media reports, the smoke has reached the opposite site of the Gulf of Corinth.
The Fire Service estimates that the situation will start to look better once the winds weaken, something that is forecast to happen as of Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the Greek Civil Service has issued a warning of “very high risk” of wild and forest fires for Sunday, Sept 15.
According to the warning, affected are the regions of:
• Attica, Evia, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, Cyclades islands, Crete – Chania, Rethymno -, Kythera, Lakonia, Argolida and Corinth
The risk of fires remains “high” also on Monday, Sept 16.
Affected are the regions of Attica, Evia, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, Dodecanese, Crete, Kythera, Lakonia, Argolida, Corinth, Ileia, Kefalonia and Zakynthos.
The fires seasons ends on october 31. Untill then, thousands of acres of forest and low vegetation will be burned down, whether by “man’s hand” or “natural causes.”
