The fires in Alexandroupolis, Boeotia, Evia, Kythnos, Rhodope and Dadia are out of control on Tuesday morning, August 22, while the front in Kavala is under partial control, according to Forecast Weather Greece, which provides continuous updates on the situation on the fire fronts on its Facebook page.
Better situation in Rhodope
The situation in the fires that broke out yesterday at noon in a forest area in the area of Mishchou and Ano Drosini in Rhodope has improved since the morning. «Today things are somewhat more optimistic, there is a relative control of the fires, despite the strong winds that continue to blow in the area,» the deputy regional governor of Rodopi, Nikos Tsalikidis, told APE-MPA.
He noted, however, that «yesterday will remain etched in our minds, as more than 10 houses were burned in Sostis, Polyanthos and Linos, crops were destroyed, animals were burned and there were injuries».
Recalled that yesterday messages were sent by «112» for evacuation to the residents of six areas, namely in Mishos, Ano Drosini, Linos, Mega Pisto, Sostis and Polyanthos. The fire entered the villages of Sostis, Polyanthos and Lino and destroyed houses. Firefighters residents and volunteers fought an overnight battle to keep the fire away from homes in Mega Pisto and Polyanthos.
As reported by ERT journalist Makis Nasiadis burned houses in Sostis, where the flames wrapped in a few hours the houses and destroyed them so that the residents did not have time to save anything.
The fire fronts have been directed towards the mountains without endangering any settlement.
A temporary suspension of traffic on the Egnatia Odos from the height of the Eastern junction Komotini Rodopi to the height of the junction Industrial area (VI.PE) Alexandroupolis, the traffic police proceeded to both streams, according to an announcement of the general regional police directorate of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The disruption is due to the fires raging in the area.
The University Hospital of Alexandroupolis and elderly structures were evacuated
Continued throughout the night the gradual evacuation of the hospital of Alexandroupolis which was decided in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous and the president of the ambulance Nikos Papaevstathiou, who went to Alexandroupolis yesterday evening Monday.
The decision to transfer patients with ambulances to health units within the 4th Health Region led to the spread of the fire, which since Saturday dawn is advancing in settlements of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis, with the flames being visible after 01.00 in the wider area of the hospital.
The destructive course of the fire -despite the superhuman efforts of the firefighting forces and due to the strong winds that continue to blow in the Municipality of Alexandroupolis- continues, resulting in the evacuation after 02.00 coastal settlements west of the city: these are the communities of Dikela, Makri, New Chili, Eleonas, Ai-Giorgis, Plaka, Nato, Pefki. 65 patients were transferred to a passenger ship in the port of Alexandroupolis.
During the last hours, tourists and residents of these areas are heading towards Alexandroupolis, following a Civil Protection directive sent via 112.
About 130 elderly people were removed from the Ioakimio nursing home and the Stavridio ecclesiastical institution for the chronically ill of the Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, with the assistance of the Municipal Authority of Alexandroupolis.
With obvious emotional charge the mayor Yannis Zamboukis spoke to AP-MPA about the operation of transporting the elderly, noting that their protection offered him the greatest satisfaction of his life.
«We asked for the assistance of the Alexandroupolis Bus Company, which provided buses to transport the guests of the two structures of the Metropolis of Alexandroupolis to a safe place. Escorted by police officers and with the help of the staff called by the priests, they were removed in two groups as the fire had approached the two buildings. Unfortunately it was not possible to move about 70 elderly people who are bedridden for whose safety competent fire brigade forces went to the site.».
What are the active fronts in Evros
In the fire fronts of the settlements of Plaka, the former settlement of Amphithea and a very large front within the pine forest of Circe which is in progress and moving either south or west to Sykorrachi continues today the unequal battle, due to the special fire weather conditions, the firefighting forces to extinguish the fire burning in Evros since Saturday morning. According to the data of the Fire Department, 214 firefighters with 11 groups of hiking sections and 59 vehicles, forces of the EL.AS, volunteer firefighters as well as water trucks and project machinery of E.S. and O.T.A. operate. Four firefighting aircraft and three firefighting helicopters are assisting the firefighting effort from the air.
A difficult night in Kythnos as well: Fire raging - Four areas evacuated
The mayor of Kythnos, Mr. Garderis, spoke on the SKY morning show and said that the flames reached the southern part of the island next to houses without threatening.
Mr. Garderis said that the fronts are several and not connected, and they are waiting for a helicopter to start dropping water.
Mr.Garderis added that 112 was sounded to residents of four areas and about 50 residents have been transported, some by water as they had no access to a road network.
Specifically, the areas of Skylos, Simousi, Agios Dimitrios and Petroussa were evacuated.
According to the mayor, no hotels are threatened.
See the evolution of the weather and winds
Two people died yesterday
An 80-year-old shepherd was found dead by the Fire Brigade in Prodromos, Boeotia, where a large fire is raging.
As it was reported by the Fire Department, a woman called the operations center and reported that the shepherd had left for his pasture immediately after the fire broke out.
Firefighters rushed to the scene where they found the elderly shepherd dead. No flames had reached the spot, but there was very thick smoke. It is thus presumed that he died from fumes, although the cause of death will be determined by the autopsy.
In addition, a dead man was found shortly after 20.00 yesterday Monday 21/8 on the provincial road of Dadia-Lefkimi by an employee of the Forestry Department of Soufli. Based on initial information it is a young man probably a migrant who entered the country illegally. .
According to testimonies, the body of a young man was found on the roadway at a point where the fire that broke out today at 12.00 in the National Park of Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli had passed through and it is speculated that his death was caused by exposure to the high temperatures of the fire and smoke. It is noted that the preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Tychero Police Department.
In flames the coastal front of Boeotia - Difficult situation
The front of the two fires on the coast of Boeotia, in the Corinthian Gulf, exceeds 10 km.In fact, the first front, which started yesterday morning from Chostia and the second one, which started yesterday afternoon from Tarsos, aided by strong winds, have taken such a direction that they have joined.
Strong winds remain in the area and the rekindled fires are creating new fronts, making it very difficult for ground and air forces to control the fire. The consolation is that there are no settlements or populated areas where the flames are passing, but there are such areas towards the sea, where ground forces have established a last line of defence.
What is of particular concern to the residents of the area is the possibility that the flames, aided by strong winds, may take a course towards Helicon and Arvanitsa, where there is a rare forest and settlements. Strong ground forces have been deployed to the area, but the terrain does not allow them to advance and approach the flames.
Furthermore, in the area where the fire broke out, the rekindled fires are particularly large, in olive groves and pine forests, and at times they create fronts that move threateningly in a completely different direction.
The fire in Evia is moving on one front, strong winds are blowing - No residential areas are in danger
Efforts are continuing to extinguish the large fire that started in Psachna and is now over Nea Artaki and Vatonas in Evia. A short while ago a mini meeting of the coordination team was completed to assess the situation.
According to initial data, more than 6,500 acres have been burned in the area, while in recent hours there has been a lull in the strong winds, enabling ground forces, as well as aerial means, to act in the area and contain the flames.
The fire is moving on one front and at the moment no residential areas are in danger, while the effort to contain this front continues unabated.
It is recalled that the region of Evia is currently in a state of extreme danger, category 5, and local authorities appeal to citizens to comply with the instructions and instructions of civil protection and to avoid all actions that may cause a fire.
According to an announcement of the Municipality of Chalkideon, 2 helicopters and 2 aircraft are currently operating in the extinguishing, 110 firefighters are operating along with the 20-member team of firefighters from France who have their own vehicles in the area. There are also 35 water trucks from the Region of Central Greece, the municipality of Chalkideon and the municipality of Messapion. Employees and crews of the forestry service, as well as army machinery and vehicles of voluntary groups, are involved in the work of extinguishing the fire.
Fire in three hearths in Aspropyrgos
Strong ground and aerial firefighting forces have rushed to the area, and according to the Service, the fire is burning in different hotspots
A message to evacuate the area of Lakka Katsaris was sent at 10:02 to the residents of Aspropyrgos, due to the fire that is ongoing in the area.
«If you are in Lakka Katsari, turn away towards Aspropyrgos. Forest fire in your area,» the message reads.
At the same time, according to information from the Police, traffic regulations were implemented in the area.
A new message of 112 was sent to the residents of the settlements of Pontius and Veras to evacuate the area due to the forest fire that is underway in Aspropyrgos. In particular the message states: «If you are in the area Pontius Settlement, Veras Settlement move away towards Elefsina. Follow the instructions of the authorities.
