Two local residents died, two firefighters were injured, houses were burned down, several acres of forest were extinguished and wildlife was killed as a wildfire has been raging near Xylokastro by Corinth in western Greece in the last 24 hours.
The charcoal bodies of two men were found in a forest area in Corinth on early Monday, in an area where a wildfire has been raging since Sunday morning. The bodies belong to two men, aged 35 and 40, who went missing in the fire in the Ano Pitsa forest.
Η #φωτια με τη βοήθεια του ανέμου καταπίνει τα πάντα στο πέρασμα της με τις οποίες ενέργειες έχουν γίνει έως τώρα να μην βρίσκουν αντίκρισμα.🙏
Συνάδελφοι, οι οικογένειες μας,μας περιμένουν στο σπίτι να γυρίσουμε υγιείς πίσω. Η σωματική σας ακαιρεοτητα πάνω απ' όλους και απ' όλα pic.twitter.com/YYa9n2yOBL
— Εποχικοί Πυροσβέστες (@epoxpyrosvestes) September 29, 2024
The two men, residents of the area, had rushed on their motorcycles to help a friend and remove animals from the pen of a friend. Under unknown circumstances they were trapped in the flames and died, media reported, adding that they had ignored warnings of the Fire Service.
The fire broke out on Sunday morning and spread quickly due to strong winds blowing with intensity of 6 Beaufort and gusts of 8 B. Dense vegetation and difficult terrain in the area made the work of fire extinguishing forces very difficult.
Residents of six villages received messages to evacuate even after Sunday midnight as the fire was raging out of control burning an area extending to 30 km.
Dozens of firefighters and volunteers have been battling all night against the flames, hindering them from entering villages, endanger human lives and properties.
Despite the efforts, some houses burned down in the Ano Loutra area, while there are also reports about damages in Elliniko village.
Monday morning there appears that no large fire front is active although firefighters are fighting three smaller different fronts.
350 firefighters with 14 teams on foot and 110 engines are operating in the area, assisted by 7 water-dropping aircraft and 11 helicopters.
According to ethnos.gr, a new evacuation message was sent short before 12 noon on Monday to residents of Pyrgos village by Xylokastro.
The causes of the wildfire remain unknown and the Fire Service has launched an investigation, ANT1 TV reported.
May the two men RIP. Will this nightmare of raging fires ever end?