Corinth blaze burns homes in its path
Corinth blaze burns homes in its path- Wildfire rages for a third day
20 July 2007
published by www.ekathimerini.com
Greece — A forest fire near Corinth, west of Athens, continued to rage for athird day yesterday burning homes in two villages, while the fire servicestruggled to cope with more than 100 brushfires across the country.
Despite the efforts of some 300 firefighters, assisted by 10 water-dropping airplanes and four helicopters, the Corinth fire swept through the village of Chiliomodi and burned at least 10 homes in the area. No injuries were reported.
Some 350 children were evacuated from a local summer camp. Authorities also had to help around 20 nuns leave the Panagia Faneromeni monastery as the fire approached.
It is estimated that the fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, has burned some 2,500 hectares of pine forest around Corinth, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency in the municipalities of Corinthia, Tenea and Saronico.
Last night, firefighters were also battling a blaze at Diakofto in the northern Peloponnese that forced residents to flee the village of Dervenaki. The fire damaged three houses and three elderly residents were taken to hospital with breathing problems.
A brushfire near Nafpaktos in west central Greece also threatened homes and had still not been brought under control late last night.
Firefighters attempt to douse a blaze near Corinth that continued to burn for a third day yesterday. The blaze, which has burned hundreds of hectares of forest and farmland as well as farmhouses, prompted the evacuation of a monastery and a childrens camp. A state of emergency was declared in three local municipalities. (Photo: Vassilis Psomas/ANA)
Several fires were reported on the Ionian island of Zakynthos.
There were also two blazes for authorities to deal with in Attica, one nearthe port of Lavrion, east of Athens, and the other near Nea Peramos, west of thecapital. Both blazes were brought under control before any major damage was done.
We are still anxious, we have the whole of August and September ahead ofus, said Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, adding that there had beenover 3,500 fires in Greece since May 1.
We put out 2,654 within three hours, said Polydoras. Another 530were put out in three to 10 hours from the moment they started.
The duration of 110 fires was between 24 and 48 hours, according to theminister.
Greece has asked the European Union for help in combating the wildfires.France has offered two firefighting aircraft and Germany may contribute ahelicopter.
