Out of control the big fire in Ziria - 4 villages evacuated - The National Road closed - Closed the bridge Rio-Antirrio on the stream to Patras

The flames of the fire that broke out in a forest area after 13:00 in Achaia reached the settlement of Ziria, with reports of burnt houses. According to the president of the Aigialia Municipal Council, George Dinos, who spoke to SKAI radio, said more than 20 houses were caught in the fire as the fire passed through the village.

Earlier, an evacuation order was given for three villages (Labiri, Kamares and Ziria) while shortly before 18:00 an evacuation order was given for the village of Logos as there are now three fire fronts.

Reports say that the fire front in the village of Labiri has reached the sea, while witnesses say that the fire has caused extensive damage.

At the same time, traffic on the old and the new highway remain closed from the height of Drepano to Eleonas.

Achaia / The fire passed through residential areas - Extensive damage

The Deputy Minister of Civil Protection and Crisis Management, Nikos Chardalias, arrived in the afternoon in the wider area of Ziria.

Stranded drivers on the old national road

On the old highway hundreds of drivers remain stranded in their cars. At the same time, there are many complaints on social media that there is no official information.

It is not possible @hellenicpolice and @MaziGefyra in these hours not knowing what is happening to you. 1TP5Lights_Ayialeia https://t.co/d0t2XLgDpA
- The Notabook (@TNotabook) July 31, 2021

For #Fire_Agialeia will one inform in the #mm_excellent Or are we going to wait for the tweets to load one by one to find out what's going on?;
- adi 🌼 (@daydreamsatgate) July 31, 2021

2021 and we are informed by the children here @xsirios @gdmn1973 @blr1a1
There is no state, we live by luck clearly#Fire_Agialeia #patra_fotia
- ovelixakis (@ovelix_gr) July 31, 2021

Achaia is burning, villages are in danger and people are informed by the bells and loudspeakers and not by the "media". Heatwave, not 1987, but 2021.
1TP5Lights_Ayialeia
- Simple Tourist (@PantzosSema) July 31, 2021

300 or so cars were sent by the police right into the fire in Kamara, going from beach to beach because the fire was getting closer. Eventually the locals got them out onto the highway. They called the civil defense and ironically told them to get away from the fire
- Jan (@VePZVughT9Iapw2) July 31, 2021

At the same time, traffic was interrupted on the Rio - Antirrio bridge on the road to Patras. Drivers heading towards Athens should use the Nafpaktos - Itea highway.

Fire broke out and in Rhododaphne of Aigio, with the University Hospital of Patras, the hospital of Aigio and the ambulance service being on standby.

Earlier, according to thebest.gr immobilized were the vehicles on the N.E.O. Patras Athens at the height of the fire. The vehicles are heading to exit 24 from Drepano. Clear the toll road to facilitate traffic.

Transport of people with coast guard vessels

After an operation by the Coast Guard, approximately 15 persons from the coastal area of Bouka in Kamares, to the port of Aigio.

The 15 civilians were transported by two Coast Guard boats, while about 20 hotel residents in Loggo are also to be transported by Coast Guard boats to a safe area.

At the same time, scale of fire department goes to in Achaia, to investigate the causes of the fire.

An evacuation order was also given to children's camp in Labiri. According to local media, the children will be transferred to Patras

For extinguishing of fire operations 145 firefighters with 5 firefighting teams, 50 vehicles, the METPE, 8 aircraft (one as a coordinator) and 8 helicopters. Fireboat from the 2nd Fire Brigade of Patras Port and 2 boats from the 6th E.M.A.K. patrol the coastal area of Aigialia and assist in the evacuation of people. Assistance is provided by the L.S. and water carriers of the local authorities.

Chrysochoidis: Fire difficult to control

«There were 56 fires today. In the last few days we have several fires in Achaia and several of them have taken dimensions and developed near homes and within settlements. For today's fire that started near the settlement of Ziria the Fire Brigade's operations centre was informed at 12:25. There was an immediate and large mobilization of forces,» said the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michael Chrysochoidis, in a statement from the Operations Center of the Fire Department.

Referring to the development of the fire, he noted that «it developed between forest vegetation, agricultural land and land within the urban fabric. It quickly reached dangerous proportions, entered into settlements, so residents were informed by fire and police forces and through 112 received a message to evacuate the areas of Ziria, Kamares and Labiri. They then received a second message in order to evacuate the settlement of Loggo, east of the previous settlements, in order to evacuate the settlements and make the citizens safe.

Earlier, it was sent message from 112 to the inhabitants of Ziria, Lamperi and Kamares, urging them to head for Aigio.

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