Greece is currently experiencing the worst days in this season of forest fires. Only during Tuesday, 82 new fires broke out, said Kostas Tsingas on Wednesday. Their extinguishing makes strong winds, persistent drought and heat, TASR writes, according to DPA.
Fires have also required evacuation and dramatic rescue operations in recent days. Tsingas described Tuesday’s number of new fires “extremely high”.
The situation is particularly dangerous near Patras on the Peloponnese Peninsula, on which up to two large fires burn, although one of them is already under control. On Tuesday they evacuated the local medical center, says AFP newsletter. In the Achaia region, which also includes Patras, they evacuated approximately 20 villages during Tuesday.
Extensive fires also stand out in the region in the northwest of the country, as well as on the islands of Zakynthos and Chios. On the island of Chios, the coast guard saved dozens of people from the village of Limnia, where the smoke was very dense. In addition, strong winds blew up a number of coals, of which, according to firefighters, a new fire can get up within a few minutes.
About 5,000 firefighters are currently involved in extinguishing across the country. According to Tsingas, they are already very exhausted. Dozens of firefighters and helicopters have been deployed in affected areas since dawn. According to a spokesman for firefighters, 15 firefighters were taken to the hospital during Tuesday.
Greece has asked for help with the extinguishing of partners in the EU and also asked for four firefighting aircraft to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. During Wednesday, in the west of the country, including the northwest of Peloponnese, temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius are waiting. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), more than 22,000 hectares of stands have burned in Greece this year.
Drought, heat and strong winds are also stimulating forest fires in other European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Montenegro and Albania.
