Fires in Mandra and Dervenochoria in West Attica, on the island of Rhodes and Lefkochoma near Sparti in Lakonia reignited on Thursday afternoon and citizens were again ordered to evacuate as the flames started to spread out of control.
Western Attica
Video: Agios Ioannis Korakas, west of Mandra. The fire reignited Thursday afternoon while noo wind was blowing in the area.
Media reported that several houses were burned down.
Residents of the areas of Agia Sotira, Paleokoundoura, Panorama, Paleochori (West Attica) were ordered via 112 emergency messaging system to evacuate toward Oinoi, north of Dervenochoria’s fire. Almost an hour later, another message ordred the evacuation of Oinoi toward Erythres, further north and closer to Thebes (Thiva).
In a later update, the Agios Ioannis Korakas residents in West Attica were also asked to evacuate to Mandra, further south toward Elefsina.
In the greater West Attica area there are 11 firefighting airplanes and 11 helicopters, including the 4 aircraft provided by Italy and France to Greece through the EU’s RescEU mechanism, the spokesman of the Fire Service said in a briefing.
Lakonia
Recent rekindling of the fire in the Lakonia region, south of Sparta. created new fronts southeast of the settlement of Lefkochoma, which are being fought by strong land forces as well as 4 aircraft and 1 helicopter.
Rhodes
On Rhodes, there are multiple rekindling of fire on the mountain range in the center of the island, and 3 aircraft with 2 helicopters are operating there.
The fires reignited after aerial means hated their operation at the sun set, state broadcaster ERT reported.
According to local ERT reporter, no homes are being threatened by the fires because the fire fronts are limited to the forest.
The blaze on Rhodes has been raging since Monday authorities declared state of emergency for the next six months.
DAMAGED HOUSES & BUSINESSES
According to Civil Protection, the first round of inspections in eastern and western Attica has shown that 60 houses and businesses have been totally damaged by the fires, while another 48 could be used only if serious reparations take place.
The Fire Service spokesman stressed that firefighters and local authorities “are expending great efforts to limit the fires that are out of control. Conditions have become extreme and create active fire fronts.”
Overall in Greece there were 62 forest fires in the last 24 hours, most of which were put out early on, he added. He warned of the forecast for temperatures rising to new highs as of Thursday through Sunday, and the high threat of fire in all of Greece.
CIVIL PROTECTION: FIREs VERY HIGH RISK MAP Friday, July 21, 2023
- Attica
Evia and Viotia
Corinth and Argolida
Rhodes
Samos and Ikaria
Areas marked with Yellow are at High Risk.
