Residents of several suburbs of Patras, were ordered to evacuate early Wednesday evening as the flames of the wildfires reached the third-largest city and port in Greece in north-western Peloponnese.
Shortly after 6:00 p.m., a 112 emergency message was sent to the residents of the neighborhoods of Aroi, Diakos, Girokomeio, and Lykochoro in the Municipality of Patras to evacuate toward the city center.
Pictures: local media tempo24.gr
Earlier, residents in other suburbs of eastern Patras were ordered to leave their homes and move away from the area as the flames were dangerously coming closer.
Evacuated residents will be temporary accommodated in the halls of the Pampeloponnesian Stadium in the city of Patras.
The Konstantopouleio nursing home for elderly and the Karamandaneio Children’s Hospital were evacuated earlier for precautionary reasons. The children were transferred to the University General Hospital in Rio.
Nun of Agios Nikolaos Mpaltas Monastery were evacuated when the roof of the facility caught fire.
Moreover, the fire has reportedly destroyed vehicles located at the facilities of the Patras Customs Office. Based on initial estimates, approximately 550 cars, the majority of the vehicles in the outdoor area, have been burned.
The fire broke out on Tuesday in Kato Achaia and by Wednesday it has extended to whole coastline burning down homes and businesses, agricultural land and livestock units. the damage and destruction are immense, however, they can’t be estimated in numbers as the wildfire continues.
Firefighters couldn’t contain it despite their efforts due to the strong winds that have been constantly changing direction.
The night is expected to turn into a nightmare for firefighting forces and locals as the water-dropping areal means do not operate after the last daylight.
According to the National Observatory of Athens, the wildfires over the past two days (KTG reported HERE) have burned about 10,000 hectares nationwide. In Achaia, approximately 2,000 are estimated to have been burned down.
According to latest information, Police arrested a 25-year-old Greek man on Wednesday evening. The suspect was seen to have bowed in a land plot near Girokomeio and when he stood up to leave a fire broke out, tempo24 reported.
sources: tempo24.gr, thebest.gr
