Fire on Andros raging unchecked, village threatened
Fire on Andros raging unchecked, village threatened
11 August 2013
published by www.amna.gr
Greece — A wildfire on the island of Andros was still raging unchecked by Sunday afternoon, continuing to pose an an imminent threat to the village of Ano Pitrofos nearby. A second fire on the island of Evia, meanwhile, was reported to be partially under control.
Fanned by strong winds blowing over the Aegean, the fire on Andros was burning low-growing vegetation and moving rapidly toward the village, which had been evacuated as a precaution. Meanwhile, the air turbulence caused by the strong winds made it impossible for four water-bombing airplanes sent to the area to assist in the fire-fighting effort, leaving only a single helicopter to operate from the air.
Reinforcement were continuing to arrive on Andros to help fight the fire, in addition to the 12 men flown in by Super-Puma helicopter from Athens on Sunday morning. Ten firemen were sent in from the island of Syros while five fire engines from Athens are due to arrive at 5:00 p.m. on a ferry from Rafina.
Forces on the ground on Sunday afternoon included 20 fire-men and five fire engines, in addition to a 12-man team flown in from Athens.
Meanwhile, the fire in Polypotamos, near the town of Karystos on Evia, was reported to be partially under control though ground forces remained on the scene to fully extinguish the flames.
