Firefighters in Greece struggle to save coastal resort as winds rage
ATHENS, Greece — Hundreds of firefighters in Greece on Saturday were battling to save a popular coastal resort northwest of Athens as violent winds continued to lash the country, hampering operations.The fire department said over 300 firefighters were operating in the area of Porto Germeno, some 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Athens in the region of Viotia.“The fire has reached the sea… homes have certainly been damaged,” a fire department spokesman told AFP.“The winds are very strong. Aircraft are trying to operate as best they can, but some are unable to and have been transferred to another fire (in the Peloponnese) where conditions are milder,” he added.The fire broke out Friday near the neighboring coastal village of Agios Vasileios. Residents initially ignored a civil protection call to evacuate, and some 300 people had to be rescued by sea.Theodore Giannaros, a wildfire meteorologist and senior researcher at the National Observatory…
Hundreds of firefighters in Greece battled a wildfire on Saturday to save the coastal resort of Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens, as strong winds hindered operations. The fire, which started near Agios Vasileios, reached the sea, causing damage to homes and prompting the sea rescue of approximately 300 residents who initially ignored evacuation calls. A fire department spokesman noted, "The winds are very strong. Aircraft are trying to operate as best they can." Wildfire meteorologist Theodore Giannaros described the damage as "inconceivable," estimating over 4,000-5,000 hectares affected. This incident is part of a series of wildfires across Greece, including Crete, with a maximum fire risk alert issued for several regions.
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