Greek authorities issued a series of emergency evacuation alerts on Friday as multiple wildfires continued to burn across the country, with strong winds fuelling flare-ups and hampering firefighting efforts.
A fresh emergency alert was sent via the 112 public warning system for Kerames in the municipality of Agios Vasileios, Crete, instructing residents and visitors to evacuate towards Kissos Kampos and follow the directions of emergency services.
Multiple evacuation orders
The latest warning followed several evacuation orders issued earlier in the day for the areas of Gefyra and Lake Preveli, where people were told to move towards Lefkogeia, and for Drymiskos, where residents were instructed to head to Spili.
The repeated alerts reflected the rapidly changing situation in southern Rethymno, where large ground firefighting forces continued to battle multiple flare-ups across the fire front. Authorities urged the public to comply with Civil Protection instructions and leave affected areas immediately to facilitate firefighting operations.
Elsewhere, 120 residents and holidaymakers were evacuated by sea from a beach in Agios Vasileios, Boeotia, as a large wildfire that broke out earlier in the day continued to burn under difficult conditions driven by strong winds.
Residents fleeing
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, all evacuees were safely transported to Livadostra. The operation was coordinated by the Coast Guard's Operations Centre and involved five privately owned vessels, a tugboat and a Fire Service boat, with additional Coast Guard and Fire Service vessels deployed to the area. The Coast Guard, Fire Service, the Region of Central Greece and the local municipality all took part in the evacuation.
A separate 112 alert was issued for Prosyli and Porto Germeno, instructing residents to evacuate via Vilia towards Mandra because of the wildfire in Agios Vasileios, Boeotia. Earlier alerts had also been issued for Agios Vasileios and Porto Germeno as the fire developed.
In western Greece, another wildfire broke out in agricultural and forest land near Komboti in the regional unit of Arta. Thirty-five firefighters, supported by a specialised ground crew, 10 fire engines and municipal water tankers, were deployed to tackle the blaze. Residents were advised through the 112 system to follow the instructions of the authorities. Local reports indicated the fire may have started at a landfill site in the Agia Paraskevi area.
Firefighting resources were also reinforced at a wildfire near Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, where the blaze broke out in woodland on the slopes of Poikilo Mountain before spreading southwards.
Arson investigation
More than 100 firefighters, supported by six specialist ground crews, 27 fire engines, five aircraft and six helicopters, including one coordinating aircraft, were deployed to the scene. Water tankers from the municipalities of Aspropyrgos, Fyli, Petroupoli and Peristeri also assisted.
Two emergency alerts were issued for the Aspropyrgos fire, first warning residents in the wider area and later ordering evacuations from Afaia and Ano Dasos in Haidari towards Peristeri via Athens Avenue.
The Fire Service said the area was under a Category 4, or very high, wildfire risk warning on Friday. An arson investigation unit for western Attica has been tasked with determining the cause of the blaze.
Source: CNA
