For one more time a large area on the island of Evia is on fire, forcing evacuations of four villages and settlements. This time, it’s the only forest that had escaped fires so far and is now burning in Central Evia.
An hour after the fire broke out, two warning messages have been sent to residents and visitors via <112> emergency line to evacuate the settlement of Afrati towards Vasiliko. Short before 5 p.m. a second message urged residents of Kamari, Kalyvia and Agios Georgios Arma to evacuate in the direction of Halkida.
There are strong northern winds blowing with 5 Beaufort in the area and gust reaching 7 B. Conditions that make the fire extinction very difficult.
According to the Fire Department, the fire broke out around 1:47 PM in Pissonas village in Dirfys-Messapia Municipality, and is moving south.
Very strong northerly winds, with gusts up to 7 Beaufort, are creating new fire fronts.
120 firefighters are operating with 5 ground teams, 40 vehicles, 11 aircraft, and 6 helicopters.
Water tankers and machinery from local governments are providing support, while police forces have also been deployed.
“The situation is developing into a particularly serious one,” the regional governor of Central Greece, Fanis Spanos, told state-run news agency amna.gr. “We are trying to create a front to deal with the flames when they reach a residential area. All forces are concentrated around the village of Afrati. The fire moves fast. Our hope is that the winds will change,” he added.
The citizens of the area are using whatever means they can, especially with tractors but also other earth-moving machines, trying to open fire zones to stop the advance of the fire with buffer zones.
It is characteristic that there is thick smoke in the area and a suffocating atmosphere has been created.
The mayor of Evia capital Halkida, Elena Vaka, requested the reinforcement of the forces with more aerial and ground means and expressed fear that the front of the fire, which is very large if it escapes, is likely to move towards the Municipality of Eretria.
Short after 6 p.m., local media eviakosmos.gr reported that another fire front was seen behind the hospital of Halkida.
As the winds change directions the flames turned toward Afrati again.
Video:
Αυτή την στιγμή έρχεται προς Αφράτι, έχει γυρίσει ο άνεμος pic.twitter.com/LLjfPbtRa3
— Μητσαρας_λεμε,εκ Χαλκίδος βεβαίως βεβαίως (@mpampismini) July 31, 2024
The blaze is currently out of control and aerial means that can combat the flames in remote areas can fly only during the day light.
The smoke from the fire in Pissonas has affected the air quality in Vasiliko, Oinofyta, Avlonas, Aspropyrgos and Salamina.
It is the second big wildfire in Evia in two days.
