Several wildfires are burning in western Greece on Tuesday, forcing evacuations on the islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia and the area of Vonitsa in Etoloakarnania.
Firefighting forces are operating amidst strong winds of up to 8 Beaufort, high temperatures and intense drought. The Hot-Fry-Windy weather increases the risk of fires with the authorities to be on high alert.
According to the latest briefing from the Fire Brigade, the most serious fires is the one on Zakynthos and in the area of Paliampela, Vonitsa.
Zakynthos – Zante
A large blaze on Zakynthos continue to rage between the villages Lithakia, Agala and Kiliomenos since dawn and is getting worse at noon with the flames threatening Agalas and Keri villages.
The wildfire on Zakynthos broke out in a forest in Kiliomeno at 6 o’ clock in the morning.
The fire is challenging firefighting forces, local residents and tourists who receive a barrage of messages from emergency line <112>, in order to evacuate villages.
The blaze has reached houses yards, local imerazante reports.
According to state broadcasting ERT, hotels in the affected areas have been evacuated, one house has burned down.
There is also a power outage in several areas due to the fire.
Speaking to ANT1 TV at 1 p.m., Mayor of Zakynthos, Giorgos Stasinopoulos said that Agalas was under serious threat as the flames have surrounded the village. He stressed that the strong winds make the firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the blaze “very difficult”.
The whole firefighting force of 60 firefighters and 17 fire engines, two ground teams and two water-dropping aircraft has been deployed in the area in the South-East of the island, while more firefighters are being deployed from Patras and Kyllini.
Kefalonia
The fire broke out at 2:30 a.m. in a forest area with low vegetation in Faraklata/Lagada, North of Argostoli.
A message via <112> instructed residents of Faraklata, Dilina and Davgata to evacuate toward Myrtos, and to follow instructions from local authorities.
The blaze has been under control already before noon, local inkefalonia reported.
It is the second wildfire on Kefalonia since August 8.
Vonitsa
The fire in Vonitsa broke out in a forest area of Paliambela at 03:45 in the morning and is still ongoing. It is the second blaze in this specific area in the last 24 hours.
So far, one message to evacuate Varko village has been sent to residents. One house has been reportedly burned down.
85 firefighters, 3 ground teams, 27 fire engines, 9 aircraft and 3 helicopters are operating to extinguish the fire, while water tankers and local government construction machinery are providing assistance.
Other wildfires are being reported in the regions of Arta, Fokida, Xanthi and Thesprotia.
