Firefighting forces, with the assistance of volunteers and residents, are battling blazes in Vonitsa, Aetolo-Akarnania, Zakynthos, and Arta, with strong northern winds as their enemy.
Earlier, a fire broke out in Kefalonia; however, according to the latest information, it has been brought under control and is showing an improved picture.
Vonitsa
A fire broke out earlier today in a forested area in the region of Paliampela in Vonitsa and is ongoing. It is burning in the areas of Sotiras and Agios Lias. So far, no settlements are at risk; however, high temperatures and strong wind speeds are complicating the situation. There are scattered hot spots where ground crews are operating, while aerial water drops are also being carried out.
Earlier, residents were put on alert to evacuate from the area of Varkó towards Paliampela. Eighty-five firefighters have been mobilised with three teams of the 5th Special Forest Operations Unit (EMODE) on foot and 27 vehicles, as well as nine aircraft and one helicopter.
There are reports that a house has already sustained damage, according to Aktio–Vonitsa mayor Athanasios Kasolas, speaking on Proto Programma radio.
Zakynthos
A large wildfire is raging in a rural and forested area between the villages of Lithakia, Agalas, and Kiliomenos on Zakynthos. All of the island’s firefighting forces are on site, assisted by volunteers, the municipality’s Civil Protection service, and the regional authority, while aerial water drops are underway. Specifically, 35 firefighters with 13 vehicles and eight aircraft (five planes, three helicopters) are operating.
Multiple 112 emergency alerts have been sent urging evacuation from Agalas towards Keri, Kiliomenos, and Macherado. In parallel, people in the Keri area have been told to evacuate towards Zakynthos Town.
An additional 14 firefighters with one EMODE foot unit and four vehicles are travelling by ferry from Kyllini, and 35 more firefighters with three foot patrol units and 10 vehicles are scheduled to arrive.
By order of the Fire Service Chief, a Fire Investigation Unit (K.A.E.E.) has been deployed to investigate the causes of the fire.
Earlier, at 08:09 a.m., the 112 alert sounded, calling on Agalas residents to evacuate towards Keri.
According to ERT journalist Andreas Papadimitriou, the fire burning in the difficult terrain of Agalas poses extreme challenges for firefighters. Due to the terrain’s nature and the intensity of the strong winds, swirling gusts are constantly changing the fire fronts.
“The fire is out of control”
The blaze is currently next to houses, and the entire village of Agalas is under threat as the forest beside it burns and the flames move towards the village of Keri. “All firefighting forces are here. Civil Protection, heavy machinery – everything – but the winds are strong, and the fire is out of control,” Zakynthos mayor Giorgos Stasinopoulos told ERT News.
“We urgently need more aerial support to stop the fire from reaching the village,” the mayor said.
Kefalonia
A large fire broke out shortly after 03:00 a.m. in the area of Faraklata on Kefalonia but is not threatening residential areas, according to Evangelos Marinakis, president of the local community, speaking to ERT News. The blaze is burning low vegetation, and with the first light of day, aerial firefighting began. Earlier, a 112 alert urged residents of Faraklata, Dilinata, and Davgata to move towards Myrtos.
According to the latest updates, the situation on the island has improved.
Arta
A forest fire also broke out in the area of Ammotopos in Arta prefecture. On site are 22 firefighters, assisted by one EMODE foot patrol team and six firefighting vehicles.
The mobilisation was immediate, and according to the Fire Service, efforts are focused on containing the fire to prevent it from spreading to residential or hard-to-reach areas.
So far, there are no reports of settlements being threatened; however, a 112 alert has been issued, urging residents to evacuate towards Kampi.
The firefighting effort is particularly difficult due to the high temperatures in Epirus combined with the winds.
Preveza
A wildfire is burning in a forested area in Gymnotopos, Preveza prefecture.
Twenty-six firefighters are tackling the blaze with support from one foot patrol team, seven firefighting vehicles, and one helicopter carrying out water drops.
A 112 alert has also been issued, calling on residents to evacuate towards Kerasóna.
Ten regions on orange alert
Today, there is a very high risk of fire in Attica, Kythera, Boeotia, Evia, Skyros, Argolis, Corinthia, Ilia, Laconia, Messinia, Phocis, Aetolia-Acarnania, Preveza, Arta, Evros, Samothrace, Limnos, Lesbos, Sporades, Chios, and Psara.
With weather conditions still favourable for the outbreak and spread of wildfires, the Fire Risk Forecast Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr) has placed ten regions of the country on heightened alert.
Earlier today, a fire also broke out in Dafnos, Phocis. Ground and aerial firefighting units were immediately mobilised, and the fire was extinguished.
Meanwhile, the situation has improved in Evinochori, Aetolia-Acarnania, and Mandrotopos, Thesprotia, while the blaze in the forest area of Kimmeria, Xanthi, is under partial control.
The fire in the mountainous area of Skoteini, in the municipality of Argos–Mycenae, which broke out on Monday afternoon, has been fully brought under control.
The wildfire that erupted at midday on Monday (11/8) between Petralona and Magganiako in the municipality of Messini is subsiding, mainly due to repeated aerial water drops. The flames, fuelled by virgin forest, reached heights of over 10 metres, crossed the slope, and threatened the first houses in Petralona.
Also read: Wildfire in Tala brought under control after dramatic air drops
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Source: ERT
